South Carolina Car / Permit practice
Handling Emergencies
What to do when things go wrong — brake failure, tire blowouts, skids, and stalling on railroad tracks.
Content reviewed against official driver handbooks · July 7, 2026
13 questions · pass with 10 correct. You get instant feedback and an explanation after every answer.
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. When a front tire suddenly loses its air, the car will most likely:
Correct answer: Pull strongly toward the side of the blowout
A front tire blowout pulls the vehicle sharply toward the side of the blowout, so a firm grip on the wheel is essential.
2. If your brakes stop working while you are driving, your first action should be to:
Correct answer: Apply the parking brake slowly
Apply the parking brake slowly so you do not lock the rear wheels, and be ready to release it if the vehicle begins to skid.
3. Should your engine quit unexpectedly as you drive, you should know that:
Correct answer: The wheel is harder to turn but still works
The steering wheel may become harder to turn but can still be turned; keep a firm grip, brake steadily, and pull off the road.
4. If one of your tires suddenly blows out while driving, you should:
Correct answer: Grip the wheel and slow down gradually
Grip the wheel firmly, keep going straight, ease off the gas to slow gradually, and avoid hard braking before pulling off safely.
5. If you have emergency flares after a breakdown, you should place them behind the vehicle about:
Correct answer: 200 to 300 feet
Set flares roughly 200 to 300 feet behind your disabled vehicle to give other drivers time to change lanes.
6. The three basic options for avoiding a collision are braking, accelerating, and:
Correct answer: Steering
Your three collision-avoidance choices are braking, accelerating, or steering around the problem.
Source: South Carolina Driver's Manual — Emergencies and Avoiding Collisions
7. If your car quits and leaves you stranded on the highway, your first move should be to:
Correct answer: Get off the road and turn on your flashers
Move the car clear of the travel lanes and well away from moving traffic when you can, then switch on the flashers to alert other drivers.
8. To use an anti-lock braking system (ABS) correctly in an emergency stop, you should:
Correct answer: Press firmly and keep steady pressure on the pedal
Press the brake pedal firmly and hold constant pressure; do not pump the brakes, since pumping deactivates ABS, and you can still steer.
9. Roughly what depth of flowing water is enough to sweep away most vehicles, even SUVs and pickups?
Correct answer: Two feet
Two feet of moving water can float and carry away most vehicles, so never attempt to cross a flooded road.
10. If your accelerator sticks and the vehicle keeps speeding up, you should:
Correct answer: Shift to neutral and steer to a safe stop
Shift to neutral, look for an escape path, and steer smoothly while braking gently, then pull off the road and turn off the engine.
11. If your vehicle begins to skid, you should:
Correct answer: Ease off the pedals and steer where you want to go
Take your foot off the brake and gas, fix your eyes on your intended path, and guide the car that way until it straightens out.
12. You approach water covering the road, or barricades set up across a flooded stretch. You should:
Correct answer: Turn around and take another route
Do not drive through flooded areas; turn around and find another route, because water can hide hazards and sweep vehicles away.
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Every South Carolina question is written from the official South Carolina driver handbook and checked against its current edition. DMV Test Free is a free, independent study resource — not affiliated with any DMV or government agency. About DMV Test Free