Blowouts, skids and crashes

Key points

1. After a blowout, grip the wheel firmly and take your foot off the accelerator.

   Source: Handbook p. 39

   “Grasp the steering wheel firmly and take your foot off the accelerator”
   Georgia Drivers Manual, Handbook p. 39

2. Do not move to the shoulder until the car has slowed greatly.

   Source: Handbook p. 39

   “Do not move to the shoulder of the road until the car has slowed greatly.”
   Georgia Drivers Manual, Handbook p. 39

3. If you start to skid, ease your foot off the accelerator and begin turning the wheel in the direction of the skid.

   Source: Handbook p. 38

   “If you start to skid: • ease your foot off of the accelerator; • begin turning the steering wheel in the direction of the skid;”
   Georgia Drivers Manual, Handbook p. 38

4. Notify police at once if anyone is injured or killed or damage exceeds $500.00.

   Source: Handbook p. 50

   “law enforcement agency immediately if anyone is injured or killed, or if property damage exceeds $500.00;”
   Georgia Drivers Manual, Handbook p. 50

5. Do not move or lift an injured person unless it is absolutely necessary.

   Source: Handbook p. 50

   “Do not move or lift the victim unless it is absolutely necessary.”
   Georgia Drivers Manual, Handbook p. 50

6. Never swerve to avoid a deer.

   Source: Handbook p. 50

   “Never swerve to avoid a deer.”
   Georgia Drivers Manual, Handbook p. 50

7. If your car is stuck on the tracks, call for help and tell them a vehicle is on the tracks.

   Source: Handbook p. 21

   “Call for help! Tell them a vehicle is on the tracks.”
   Georgia Drivers Manual, Handbook p. 21

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Georgia practice test

1. 1. What should a driver do after a sudden tire blow-out?

   1. Turn sharply onto the shoulder immediately
   2. Grip the wheel, remove your foot from the accelerator, and let the vehicle slow
   3. Accelerate to reach a repair shop quickly
   4. Brake hard and steer across traffic
   Show answer

   Grip the wheel, remove your foot from the accelerator, and let the vehicle slow. A blow-out can make a moving vehicle swerve, so the manual emphasizes calm control. Grip the steering wheel firmly, take your foot off the accelerator, and let the vehicle roll to a stop. A sharp immediate move to the shoulder can worsen the swerve, and hard braking may cause loss of control. Accelerating adds load and speed to an already unstable vehicle. Apply brakes lightly only if necessary and safe, then move toward the shoulder after the car has slowed greatly. The cue is control first, roadside position second.

2. 2. If your vehicle begins to skid, what should you do first?

   1. Press the brake pedal as hard as possible
   2. Ease your foot off the accelerator
   3. Accelerate to force the tires to regain grip
   4. Turn the steering wheel sharply away from the skid
   Show answer

   Ease your foot off the accelerator. The first response to a skid is to ease off the accelerator, which removes power that can keep the tires from regaining grip. Hard braking, a sharp turn away from the skid, or acceleration can make the vehicle less stable. After reducing power, steer in the direction of the skid and wait until control returns before applying a light brake if needed. Keep movements measured, because abrupt corrections can turn a manageable slide into a larger loss of control.

3. 3. What is the proper response to a sudden tire blow-out while the vehicle is moving?

   1. Lock the brakes and turn toward the center line
   2. Turn immediately and sharply onto the shoulder
   3. Pump the accelerator to stabilize the tire
   4. Do not move to the shoulder until the car has slowed greatly
   Show answer

   Do not move to the shoulder until the car has slowed greatly. A blow-out may pull or throw the vehicle toward the shoulder, but the manual warns against moving there until the car has slowed greatly. Keeping the vehicle under control is more important than reaching the edge immediately. A sharp turn, accelerator pumping, or locked brakes can increase the swerve and make recovery harder. Hold the wheel firmly, remove your foot from the accelerator, and brake lightly only if necessary and safe. The cue is gradual deceleration before any shoulder movement.

Source: the Georgia Drivers Manual, Section 11: Crashes. 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.