Vehicle Emergencies and Equipment Failure

Key points

1. If your vehicle breaks down, get it off the road and turn on your emergency flashers.

   Source: Handbook p. 39

   “Get your vehicle off the road and away from traffic if at all possible. • Turn on your emergency flashers to show that you are having trouble.”
   Connecticut Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 39

2. If the brakes fail, pump the brake pedal several times to build up pressure.

   Source: Handbook p. 39

   “Pump the brake pedal several times. This will often build up enough brake pressure to allow you to stop.”
   Connecticut Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 39

3. If the brakes still do not work, shift to lower gears and find a safe place to stop off the road.

   Source: Handbook p. 39

   “start shifting to lower gears and look for a safe place to slow to a stop. Make sure the vehicle is off the roadway.”
   Connecticut Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 39

4. In a blowout, hold the wheel tightly, go straight and slow down gradually.

   Source: Handbook p. 39

   “Hold the steering wheel tightly and keep the vehicle going straight. • Slow down gradually.”
   Connecticut Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 39

5. If the engine dies, the brakes still work, but you may have to push very hard on the pedal.

   Source: Handbook p. 40

   “The brakes will still work, but you may have to push very hard on the brake pedal.”
   Connecticut Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 40

6. If the gas pedal sticks, shift to neutral, pull off when safe and turn off the engine.

   Source: Handbook p. 40

   “Quickly shift to neutral. • Pull off the road when it is safe to do so. • Turn off the engine.”
   Connecticut Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 40

7. Never turn the ignition to lock while moving; the steering will lock.

   Source: Handbook p. 40

   “Never turn your vehicle’s ignition to the “lock” position while it is still in motion or the steering will lock”
   Connecticut Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 40

3 questions from the Connecticut practice test

1. 1. If the brake pedal goes to the floor while driving, what should you try first?

   1. Pump the brake pedal several times
   2. Turn the steering wheel sharply toward the shoulder
   3. Shift immediately into park while moving
   4. Accelerate to reach the next intersection
   Show answer

   Pump the brake pedal several times. A brake pedal that drops to the floor signals a possible braking system failure. The first response in the manual's brake failure steps is to pump the brake pedal several times, which will often build up enough pressure to stop. If that does not work, pull on the parking brake slowly so the rear wheels do not lock, and if that also fails, shift to lower gears and look for a safe place to stop off the roadway. Sharp steering, shifting into park, and accelerating are not part of that sequence.

2. 2. After pumping a failed brake pedal and using the parking brake slowly, what should the driver do if the brakes still do not work?

   1. Use the parking brake at full force while turning sharply
   2. Continue driving until the brakes begin working normally
   3. Turn the vehicle off in the travel lane
   4. Shift to lower gears and look for a safe place to stop off the roadway
   Show answer

   Shift to lower gears and look for a safe place to stop off the roadway. Brake failure recovery proceeds in stages. After pumping the pedal and applying the parking brake slowly, the manual says to begin shifting to lower gears and look for a safe place to slow to a stop. The vehicle should be off the roadway, and it must not be driven without brakes. Continuing to drive leaves the emergency unresolved, while pulling the parking brake hard can lock the rear wheels and cause a skid. Stopping in the travel lane leaves the vehicle on the roadway instead of off it.

3. 3. If the gas pedal sticks and the engine keeps speeding up, which sequence is recommended?

   1. Turn the ignition to lock while the vehicle is moving
   2. Pump the accelerator while staying in the lane
   3. Shift to neutral, pull off safely, then turn off the engine
   4. Apply the parking brake suddenly and steer into traffic
   Show answer

   Shift to neutral, pull off safely, then turn off the engine. A stuck accelerator requires the driver to reduce the engine's connection to the drive wheels and regain a safe stopping path. Keep looking at the road, shift quickly to neutral, pull off when it is safe, and turn off the engine. Turning the ignition to the lock position while moving can lock the steering, while pumping the pedal does not address the fault. Jerking the parking brake and steering into traffic is not part of the listed steps and puts other vehicles at risk. The order matters: neutral first, a controlled move away from traffic second, and engine shutdown after reaching a safe position.

Source: the Connecticut Driver's Manual, Road Safety: Equipment Failure. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.