California Car / Permit practice question · Handling Emergencies
Your vehicle stops running on the freeway and you manage to reach the right shoulder. What should you do next?
Answer choices
- Stay inside the vehicle with your seat belt on until help arrives— Correct answer
- Stand behind the vehicle to flag down help
- Walk along the freeway to find a call box
- Leave the vehicle unlocked and walk away
Why this is the answer
If your vehicle stops on the freeway and you reach the right shoulder, stay inside with your seat belt on until help arrives. If you must get out, exit on the right side, away from traffic, and get back in the same way as soon as you can. Call 511 from your phone for help. Flashers are your choice.
Source: California Driver Handbook — Disabled Vehicles on the Freeway
Content reviewed against official driver handbooks · August 12, 2026
More Handling Emergencies questions
- If your right wheels drift off the pavement onto the dirt shoulder, you should:
- If the high beams of an oncoming car are blinding you at night, you should:
- If your vehicle stalls on railroad tracks and a train is approaching, you should:
- If your vehicle starts to skid on a slippery surface such as ice or packed snow, you should:
- If your brakes suddenly stop working, you should first: