Handling Emergencies

Study questions with answers

12 sample Handling Emergencies questions with the correct answer, a short explanation, and the official handbook reference. Read through them, then take the quiz above.

1. 1. If your car starts to hydroplane on a wet road, you should:

   Correct answer: Ease off the accelerator and hold the wheel steady

   When hydroplaning, take your foot off the gas, avoid braking and sudden steering, and hold the wheel firmly until the tires regrip.

   Source: Arizona Driver License Manual — Rain

2. 2. If your power steering fails because the engine dies during a turn, you should:

   Correct answer: Grip the wheel firmly with both hands and steer to the side of the road

   Hold the wheel tightly with both hands to finish the turn and steer to the right, then stop, pressing hard on the brakes if they are power-assisted.

   Source: Arizona Driver License Manual — Power Steering Failure

3. 3. If your vehicle has anti-lock brakes (ABS) during an emergency stop, you should:

   Correct answer: Apply firm, steady pressure without pumping

   With ABS, do not pump the pedal; press and hold firm, steady pressure and let the system prevent lockup.

   Source: Arizona Driver License Manual — Brake Failure

4. 4. If an animal is in the road ahead but you cannot avoid it without losing control, you should:

   Correct answer: Slow down as much as possible and steer around it without losing control

   Brake and reduce speed as much as you safely can, steering to avoid a direct hit without losing control; do not honk at an animal that is not yet on the road.

   Source: Arizona Driver License Manual — Animals on the Road

5. 5. If your engine overheats and steam rises from under the hood, you should NOT:

   Correct answer: Immediately remove the radiator cap

   Never open a hot radiator cap; escaping steam can cause severe burns. Let the engine cool first, then add water.

   Source: Arizona Driver License Manual — Overheating

6. 6. If you come upon debris in your lane with no time to change lanes safely, sometimes the better choice is to:

   Correct answer: Drive over it rather than swerve and lose control

   Swerving to miss debris can cause a loss of control; in some cases driving straight over it is far less dangerous than a sudden swerve.

   Source: Arizona Driver License Manual — Debris on the Road

7. 7. You are stopped at a light and see a vehicle approaching fast from behind that may hit you. You should:

   Correct answer: Pull forward if you can to give it more room to stop

   If possible, move forward to give the approaching car more stopping room; if a crash is unavoidable, brace yourself and release the brake just before impact.

   Source: Arizona Driver License Manual — Avoiding a Crash

8. 8. If you are one of the first to arrive at the scene of a crash, you should:

   Correct answer: Pull off the road, turn on your hazard flashers, and call 911

   Get off the road, put on your flashers, turn off the ignition of crashed vehicles if possible, call 911, and stay out of the traffic lanes.

   Source: Arizona Driver License Manual — Assisting at the Scene of a Crash

9. 9. If your car's engine catches fire, you should:

   Correct answer: Pull off the road, shut off the ignition, and get everyone away from the car

   Pull over, turn off the ignition to cut power, move all occupants away, and call 911; never use water on a gasoline fire.

   Source: Arizona Driver License Manual — Fire

10. 10. If your headlights suddenly fail at night, your first step should be to:

    Correct answer: Try the high-beam/low-beam switch to restore them

    Try the dimmer switch or turn the headlight switch on and off; if they stay off, use parking lights or flashers and pull off the road.

    Source: Arizona Driver License Manual — Headlight Failure

11. 11. If your brakes fail in a vehicle WITHOUT anti-lock brakes, you should first:

    Correct answer: Pump the pedal rapidly to try to build pressure

    Without ABS, pump the pedal quickly to try to restore pressure; if that fails, ease on the parking brake and downshift while looking for a safe stop.

    Source: Arizona Driver License Manual — Brake Failure

12. 12. If a front tire suddenly blows out while you are driving, you should:

    Correct answer: Grip the wheel firmly, keep straight, and ease off the gas

    Hold the wheel tightly to stay straight, take your foot off the gas without braking, let the car slow, then signal and pull off.

    Source: Arizona Driver License Manual — Tire Failure