Key points
If your regular brakes fail, shift to a lower gear and pump the brake pedal fast and hard several times.
Source: Handbook p. 107
“a motorist should shift to a lower gear and pump the brake pedal fast and hard several times.”
New Jersey Driver Manual, Handbook p. 107In a blowout, hold the wheel firmly, keep the car straight and slow down gradually without braking.
Source: Handbook p. 107
“he/she should hold the steering wheel firmly and keep the vehicle straight while gradually slowing down. The motorist should remove his/her foot from the gas pedal but not use the brakes.”
New Jersey Driver Manual, Handbook p. 107If the gas pedal sticks, keep your eyes on the road, shift to neutral, steer off the road and turn off the engine.
Source: Handbook p. 108
“If a gas pedal sticks, the motorist should keep his/her eyes on the road while quickly shifting to neutral. Steer the vehicle to a safe area off the roadway, turn the engine off and call for help.”
New Jersey Driver Manual, Handbook p. 108If your wheels drift onto the shoulder, slow to 25 mph or less before steering back onto the road with a quarter turn of the wheel.
Source: Handbook p. 105
“After the vehicle has slowed down to 25 mph or less, the motorist may turn back onto the road by turning the steering wheel one-quarter turn toward the roadway.”
New Jersey Driver Manual, Handbook p. 105Never turn the ignition to the lock position while the car is moving, or the steering will lock.
Source: Handbook p. 104
“never turn the ignition to the lock position while the vehicle is in motion. The steering will lock as the vehicle turns”
New Jersey Driver Manual, Handbook p. 104In a car fire, get everyone out and away at once and call for help. Never try to put the fire out yourself.
Source: Handbook p. 106
“Get passengers out and away from the vehicle at once and call for help. A motorist should never attempt to put out a fire.”
New Jersey Driver Manual, Handbook p. 106If you stall on railroad tracks with a train coming, run away at a 45 degree angle toward the direction the train is coming from.
Source: Handbook p. 106
“If a train is approaching, run at a 45-degree angle away from the vehicle and tracks but in the direction of the train to avoid being injured by flying debris.”
New Jersey Driver Manual, Handbook p. 106For an emergency stop, put a warning device just behind the car and another at least 300 feet back.
Source: Handbook p. 105
“Day or night put a flare or other warning sign just behind the vehicle. Put another warning device at least 300 feet back (about 120 paces).”
New Jersey Driver Manual, Handbook p. 105If a crash causes injury or more than $500 in damage and police file no report, send a written report to the MVC within 10 days.
Source: Handbook p. 111
“When damage to the property is more than $500 or there is personal injury, a motorist must: • Send a written report to the MVC within 10 days if no police report is filed.”
New Jersey Driver Manual, Handbook p. 111
Numbers to know
| Number | What it means | Manual |
|---|---|---|
| 25 mph | slow to this speed or less before steering back onto the pavement | Handbook p. 105 |
| 300 feet | distance back for a second warning device at an emergency stop | Handbook p. 105 |
| 45 degrees | angle to run away from a stalled car on the tracks, toward the train | Handbook p. 106 |
| 3 to 10 minutes | how long a closed car may float after plunging into water | Handbook p. 106 |
| $500 | property damage above which a crash must be reported | Handbook p. 111 |
| 10 days | deadline for a written crash report to the MVC when police file none | Handbook p. 111 |
3 questions from the New Jersey practice test
1. Your conventional brakes suddenly fail on a New Jersey road. Which response follows the manual?
- Press the accelerator to reach a safer shoulder faster
- Turn off the engine and lock the steering wheel
- Use the parking brake fully without holding its release
- Shift to a lower gear and pump the brake pedal rapidly
Show answer
Shift to a lower gear and pump the brake pedal rapidly. A conventional brake failure calls for several coordinated actions. Shift to a lower gear, then pump the brake pedal fast and hard several times to try to build pressure. If braking still does not return, use the parking brake while holding its release, which lets you ease off if the rear wheels lock. The choice that jumps straight to a fully applied parking brake removes that control. Keep looking for a safe place off the roadway while the vehicle slows.
2. A New Jersey driver experiences a tire blowout. What should the driver do first?
- Brake hard before moving toward the shoulder
- Turn sharply toward the nearest open lane
- Release the steering wheel so the vehicle can coast freely
- Hold the steering wheel firmly and keep the vehicle straight
Show answer
Hold the steering wheel firmly and keep the vehicle straight. During a blowout, the first priority is keeping the vehicle pointed straight. Hold the steering wheel firmly, remove your foot from the gas pedal, and let the vehicle gradually slow without using the brakes. Braking hard can upset the vehicle, while a sharp turn creates a second loss-of-control risk. Once the car has coasted down, guide it to a safe area off the roadway. The steering wheel is your anchor during the initial tire failure.
3. If a gas pedal sticks, what sequence should the driver follow?
- Pump the pedal while keeping speed
- Turn sharply and apply the parking brake first
- Shift to neutral, steer to safety, turn off the engine, and call for help
- Switch off immediately in moving traffic
Show answer
Shift to neutral, steer to safety, turn off the engine, and call for help. A stuck accelerator requires the driver to keep watching the roadway while removing engine drive. Shift quickly to neutral, steer to a safe area off the roadway, turn the engine off, and call for help. Repeated pumping may fail, a sharp turn can cause loss of control, and switching off before reaching safety leaves the vehicle exposed. Control the path first, then deal with the disabled vehicle.
Practice this topic
Lock it in with emergencies questions from the free New Jersey practice test. Every answer comes with a plain English explanation.
Source: the New Jersey Driver Manual, Chapter 5: Defensive Driving. 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.