Texas Car / Permit practice question · Handling Emergencies
If a tire suddenly blows out while you are driving at highway speed, you should:
Answer choices
- brake as hard as possible right away
- steer sharply onto the shoulder
- hold the wheel firmly, ease off the gas, and let the car slow before pulling off— Correct answer
- press the gas to keep the car steady
Why this is the answer
With a flat tire or blowout, do not hit the brakes suddenly and hard. Instead, lift your foot off the gas, apply the brakes gently, and steer straight ahead until you stop. Slamming the brakes can make a bad situation worse, and pressing the gas does the opposite of what you need. A car with a blowout can be driven slowly off the road.
Source: Texas Driver Handbook — Handling Emergencies
Content reviewed against official driver handbooks · August 12, 2026
More Handling Emergencies questions
- Water across the road stalls your engine and the car is sitting in it. You should:
- You find someone who has been overcome by carbon monoxide from a running engine. What should you do?
- Someone is hurt in a crash you have stopped at. Unless there is truly no other choice, you should:
- Your right tires drift off the pavement onto a lower shoulder. The best response is to:
- If your brakes suddenly fail, one recommended action is to: