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. When a tire blows out at speed, you should:

   Correct answer: Grip the wheel firmly and ease off the gas

   Hold the wheel firmly to keep the vehicle straight, ease off the accelerator, and avoid braking until the vehicle has slowed enough to control.

   Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook — Blowouts

2. 2. If your car begins to hydroplane, the correct response is to:

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

   Take your foot off the gas, resist braking, and hold the wheel straight until the tires regain their grip on the road.

   Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook — Hydroplaning

3. 3. If your vehicle stalls on railroad tracks, you should:

   Correct answer: Get out at once and move away from the tracks

   Get out immediately and move away from both the vehicle and the tracks, then report the emergency using the blue ENS sign information.

   Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook — Railroad Crossing Safety

4. 4. If you are about to be struck from behind and the road ahead of you is clear, you should:

   Correct answer: Move forward to lessen the impact

   Press the accelerator and move forward to lessen the impact, brace yourself, and press the back of your head against the head rest.

   Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook — Crashes

5. 5. If the rear of your car begins to skid, you should steer:

   Correct answer: Toward the direction the rear is sliding

   Ease off the gas and steer toward whichever way the back end is sliding, then straighten up before you over-correct.

   Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook — Skids

6. 6. You must make an immediate report to law enforcement after a crash when someone is hurt or when property damage is at least:

   Correct answer: $1,000

   The law requires an immediate report when anyone is killed or injured, or when total vehicle and property damage appears to be $1,000 or more.

   Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook — Crashes

7. 7. If you are involved in a crash, the law requires you to:

   Correct answer: Stop and, among other duties, help anyone who is injured

   You must stop immediately, take steps to prevent further crashes, help anyone injured, and make sure law enforcement is notified.

   Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook — Crashes

8. 8. An oncoming car drifts across the center line toward you. You should:

   Correct answer: Slow down, sound your horn, and keep right even off the road

   Reduce your speed at once, sound your horn, and keep to the right even if that means leaving the road.

   Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook — Unusual Emergencies

9. 9. If your wheels drift off the pavement onto the shoulder, you should first:

   Correct answer: Ease off the gas and keep the wheel straight

   Do not brake hard or jerk back onto the road. Ease off the gas, keep the wheel straight, let the vehicle slow, then return when it is safe.

   Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook — Unusual Emergencies

10. 10. The best way to dry out wet brakes is to:

    Correct answer: Drive slowly while pressing the pedal lightly

    Drive a short distance while pressing the pedal lightly; the friction generates heat that evaporates the water from the linings.

    Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook — Wet Brakes

11. 11. If your brakes suddenly fail while driving, you should:

    Correct answer: Shift to a lower gear and apply the emergency brake

    Shift into a lower gear and apply the emergency brake. In an automatic, set the emergency brake and move the lever to a low range.

    Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook — Brake Failure

12. 12. If your gas pedal sticks while driving, one correct response is to:

    Correct answer: Shift into neutral and brake firmly

    Shift to neutral and apply firm brake pressure without locking the wheels, then find a safe place to pull completely off the road.

    Source: North Carolina Driver Handbook — Gas Pedal Sticks