In a driving emergency, keep both hands on the wheel, avoid sudden braking or hard steering, slow down gradually and get the car off the road. The California Driver's Handbook gives step-by-step rules for a tire blowout, wheels off the pavement, overheating, a freeway breakdown and a car stalled on railroad tracks. The handbook also covers skids, and the DMV's teen driver page adds brake failure and a stuck gas pedal.
| Emergency | First move | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Tire blowout | Hold the wheel with both hands, keep your speed if safe, then ease off the gas | Braking hard or lifting off the gas suddenly |
| Wheels drift off the pavement | Grip the wheel, take your foot off the gas, brake gently | Jerking the wheel back toward the road |
| Brakes fail | Shift to a lower gear, then use the brake method for your car and the parking brake | Turning off the engine before the car stops |
| Gas pedal stuck | Shift into neutral and brake | Looking down at the pedal instead of the road |
| Skid | Ease off the gas, do not brake, and steer in the direction of the skid | Braking on ice or packed snow |
| Breakdown on the freeway | Pull onto the right shoulder and get out on the right side | Standing between the car and traffic |
| Stalled on tracks, train coming | Get out and run away from the tracks, toward the train, at an angle | Staying in the car to restart it |
What do you do if a tire blows out?
Hold the steering wheel with both hands and do not brake hard. The handbook uses the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's steps: keep your speed if it is safe, ease off the gas slowly, correct the steering to keep the car straight, and look where you want to go. Once the car is steady, keep slowing down and pull off the road when it is safe.
The DMV's teen driver page words this a little differently. It says to steer straight ahead, slow down gradually without hitting the brakes, guide the car off the road and brake only when it is almost stopped. Both agree on the key point: no sudden braking. The permit test questions come from the handbook, so learn the handbook's wording.
What if your wheels drift off the pavement?
Grip the wheel firmly, take your foot off the gas and brake gently. Check for traffic behind you, then steer back onto the pavement with care. The handbook warns that pulling the wheel too hard can send the car into oncoming traffic, so return slowly once the car has slowed down.
What if the brakes fail or the gas pedal sticks?
If the brakes fail, shift into a lower gear first. Then brake the way your car needs. With four-wheel ABS, press the brake pedal firmly. With rear-wheel ABS only, common in light trucks, ease up just enough to let the front wheels roll so you can steer. With no ABS, pump the pedal. You can also use the parking brake, but be ready to release it if the car starts to skid.
- Steer, and warn others. You can still steer and swerve. Steer toward something soft, such as bushes, if you must. Use your horn and flash your lights.
- Gas pedal stuck: shift into neutral, brake, and keep your eyes on the road while you look for a way out of traffic. Warn other drivers with the horn and hazard lights.
- Wait to turn off the engine. Turn it off only after the car has stopped. On many cars, turning the key locks the steering wheel.
How do you get out of a skid?
If the car skids on ice, packed snow or another slippery surface, slowly take your foot off the gas and do not use the brakes. Turn the steering wheel in the direction of the skid and try to get a wheel onto dry pavement. The handbook says the best defense is to drive slowly, keep extra space and avoid fast turns and quick stops on slippery roads.
- Locked wheels from braking too hard: with four-wheel ABS, press the brake pedal firmly. With rear-wheel ABS, common in light trucks, ease up just enough to let the front wheels roll, then stop braking and steer into the skid. With front-wheel ABS, take your foot off the brake, steer where you want to go and straighten the wheels as the car straightens.
- No ABS: pump the brakes quickly until you reach a safe speed.
- Not sure what your car has? The owner's manual says whether it has ABS.
- Water on the road: if you see reflections on the pavement, or the car ahead leaves no tracks, you could hydroplane. The DMV's teen page says to slow down and steer around the water if you can.
What if your car breaks down on the freeway or on railroad tracks?
On the freeway, pull onto the right shoulder. If you must get out, use the right side, away from traffic, and get back in from that side. Call 511 or use a call box, then stay in the car with your seat belt on until help arrives. The handbook says to get out and stay away from the car instead when the shoulder is too narrow, when there is a guardrail, or when there is a safe place away from the lanes.
During commute hours, the California Highway Patrol's Freeway Service Patrol helps stuck drivers for free in some areas. It can give a gallon of gas, jump-start a battery, refill a radiator, change a flat tire or tow the car free to a CHP-approved spot. Call 511 for details.
School buses, railroad crossings and farm equipment come up on rural California roads all the time. Our school's guide to school buses, railroad crossings and farm equipment (opens in a new tab) covers the everyday rules for each.
What should you do in extreme heat, cold, wind or snow?
Watch the temperature gauge in both heat and cold. In extreme heat, the handbook says to avoid long stretches at high speed and to turn off the air conditioner if the engine starts to overheat. In extreme cold, the engine may not have enough antifreeze, so watch for overheating and use the defroster or open a window slightly to keep the glass clear.
- Strong wind: slow down, avoid driving next to other vehicles, hold the wheel firmly and keep the windows closed. The DMV notes that vans and trucks with high sides can be pushed out of their lane.
- Stuck in snow or mud: shift into a low gear, keep the front wheels straight and press the gas gently without spinning the wheels. Rock forward and back until the car rolls free. Put boards or branches under the tires only when the wheels are not moving.
- Fog and heavy rain: use low beams, never high beams, and pull fully off the road if you cannot see. Our school's guide to fog, rain and night driving (opens in a new tab) covers these conditions in detail.
Quick answers
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Sources
- California Driver's Handbook, Section 9: Safe Driving (Continued), Know How to Handle Emergencies (opens in a new tab)
- California Driver's Handbook, Section 9: Safe Driving (skids and slippery roads) (opens in a new tab)
- California DMV: Teen Driver Tips (brakes, accelerator, skids, hydroplaning, snow and mud) (opens in a new tab)
Checked: October 5, 2026. Rules and forms can change; recheck the official page before acting.
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