Equipment Failures and Crashes

Key points

1. In a blowout, hold the wheel tightly, keep straight and slow down gradually.

   Source: Handbook p. 62

   “Hold the steering wheel tightly and keep the vehicle going straight. • Slow down gradually.”
   Iowa Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 62

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

   Source: Handbook p. 62

   “Quickly shift to neutral. • Pull off the road when safe to do so. • Turn off the engine after stopping.”
   Iowa Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 62

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

   Source: Handbook p. 62

   “Pump the brake pedal several times. This will often build up enough brake pressure to allow you to stop.”
   Iowa Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 62

4. Never remove the key while driving, or the steering may lock.

   Source: Handbook p. 62

   “Never remove the key or allow passengers to touch the key while driving.”
   Iowa Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 62

5. After a crash with no injuries, move an operable vehicle out of the driving lanes.

   Source: Handbook p. 22

   “Iowa law requires that you move your vehicle out of the driving lanes of traffic if the vehicle is operable and can be safely moved.”
   Iowa Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 22

6. Each minute a lane is blocked raises the risk of a secondary crash by about 2.8 percent.

   Source: Handbook p. 22

   “For every minute a lane of traffic on the interstate is blocked, the risk of a secondary crash increases by roughly 2.8 percent.”
   Iowa Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 22

7. Report a crash with injury, death or over $1,500 in damage; not reporting within 72 hours costs your license.

   Source: Handbook p. 63

   “It is state law to report a crash to the police involving injury or death to another person, or property damage of more than $1,500. Failure to do so within 72 hours of the incident will result in the loss of your driving privileges”
   Iowa Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 63

8. If an animal appears and there is no time to stop, do not swerve.

   Source: Handbook p. 57

   “If an animal is encountered, and there isn’t time to stop, don’t swerve or veer as this will likely result in a more severe crash.”
   Iowa Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 57

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Iowa practice test

1. 1. Which crash must be reported to Iowa police under the manual's stated threshold?

   1. A crash involving injury or death, or property damage above $1,500
   2. Only a crash that blocks an interstate for more than one hour
   3. Only a crash involving two commercial vehicles
   4. Any minor scrape, but not a crash involving an injury
   Show answer

   A crash involving injury or death, or property damage above $1,500. Iowa requires police notification when a crash involves injury or death to another person or property damage exceeding $1,500. That threshold is broader than the commercial-vehicle and interstate conditions in the distractors. A driver should first protect people, move an operable vehicle out of traffic when it can be done safely, and call 911 with the location and possible injuries. Leaving because damage looks inconvenient is not a substitute for reporting. The key numbers are injury or death, or damage greater than $1,500, followed by the 72-hour reporting consequence described in the manual.

2. 2. What is the recommended first response when your brakes fail while driving?

   1. Pump the brake pedal several times to build pressure
   2. Use the parking brake slowly if pumping does not work
   3. Start shifting to lower gears after the parking brake does not work
   4. Turn off the engine while moving
   Show answer

   Pump the brake pedal several times to build pressure. When the brakes stop working, begin by pumping the brake pedal several times. That action may build enough pressure to let you stop. If it does not work, the manual moves to the parking brake, used slowly so the rear wheels do not lock and skid, and then lower gears if needed. The lower-gear option is a later step, not the first response. Turning off the engine while moving can complicate control. Keep a firm steering grip, look for a safe place to stop, and make each response in sequence.

3. 3. If a vehicle's motor keeps speeding up after the driver releases the accelerator, what should the driver do first?

   1. Remove the ignition key while moving
   2. Quickly shift to neutral
   3. Pump the accelerator repeatedly
   4. Turn sharply toward oncoming traffic
   Show answer

   Quickly shift to neutral. A stuck accelerator requires the driver to preserve steering control while removing engine drive. Quickly shifting to neutral separates the engine from the wheels, giving time to guide the vehicle safely. Pulling the key while moving can lock the steering wheel, and pumping the accelerator does not address a pedal that remains open. A sharp move toward oncoming traffic creates a second emergency. Keep your eyes on the road, shift to neutral, pull off when safe, and turn the engine off after stopping. The sequence is control, escape the travel lane, then shut down.

Source: the Iowa Driver's Manual, Chapter 5: Equipment Failure and 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.