Breakdowns
Get a troubled car out of the travel lanes, never stopped just over a hill or past a curve. Hazards on, triangles or flares 200 to 300 feet behind, a white cloth to signal for help. Blowout: grip the wheel, no braking, let it slow itself. Engine dies: the wheel gets heavy but still turns, brake steadily and pull off. Stuck accelerator: shift to neutral at once. Headlights out: hazards on and pull off.
If a power line lands on the car, stay inside and call 911; if fire forces you out, jump clear with feet together and shuffle 35 feet away.
Example: the right front tire blows on the freeway and the car pulls right. Hold the wheel firmly, keep straight, ease off the gas, and pull over only once it has slowed, never stamping on the brake.
Related questions
- A tire blows out at highway speed. You should:
- The accelerator sticks and the car keeps speeding up. What should you do first?
- Your car breaks down at the roadside. How far behind it should you place warning triangles?
- A power line falls on your car and there is no fire. You should:
- Your car suddenly has trouble on the freeway and is losing power. What should you do?
- Your car has broken down on the freeway and you call for help. Besides the route number, what should you give so responders can find you fastest?
- Your turn signals are not working and you need to turn left ahead. What is the correct hand signal?
- Your turn signals have failed and you want to turn right. Which hand signal should you use?
- Which statement about hand signals is correct?
- Why do you turn on your hazard warning lights when your vehicle breaks down beside the road?
- Your phone navigation drops out while you are driving in the city, and you need to stop to reset it. What should you do?
- Your car has broken down and you have to stop where you are. Which location is the worst?
- Your car is disabled at the roadside and you have no triangles or flares. What should you do?
- A car at the roadside has a white cloth tied to its mirror and the hood raised. What does this mean?
- Your engine dies while you are driving and the steering wheel becomes very hard to turn. What should you do?
- Your headlights suddenly go out while driving at night. What should you do?
- Your accelerator stuck, you shifted to neutral and have pulled off safely. What should you do next?
- After a storm you accidentally drive onto a fallen power line. What should you do?
- A power line is on your car and it catches fire. After jumping clear, how far away should you shuffle?
- A power line is on your car and a fire forces you out. What is the correct way to leave?
- After a blowout on the freeway you have pulled over and turned on your flashers, but heavy traffic makes changing the tire unsafe. What should you do?
- A power line is on your car but there is no fire. Why should you stay inside instead of getting out?
- You see a fallen tree trunk lying across the tracks at a railroad crossing. How should you report it?