Vehicle emergencies and skids

Key points

1. If your brakes stop working, pump the brake pedal several times; this often builds up enough pressure to stop.

   Source: Handbook p. 31

   “Pump the brake pedal several times. This will often build up enough brake pressure to allow you to stop.”
   New Mexico Driver Manual, Handbook p. 31

2. Pull the parking brake handle slowly so you do not lock the rear wheels and skid.

   Source: Handbook p. 31

   “Pull on the parking brake handle slowly so you will not lock the rear wheels and cause a skid.”
   New Mexico Driver Manual, Handbook p. 31

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

   Source: Handbook p. 31

   “Hold the steering wheel tightly and keep the vehicle going straight. Slow down gradually. Take your foot off the gas pedal and use the brakes lightly.”
   New Mexico Driver Manual, Handbook p. 31

4. If the engine dies, pull off the roadway; the brakes still work, but you may have to push very hard on the pedal.

   Source: Handbook p. 31

   “Pull off the roadway. The brakes will still work but you may have to push very hard on the brake pedal.”
   New Mexico Driver Manual, Handbook p. 31

5. If headlights go out, try the switch a few times, then use flashers, turn signals or fog lights.

   Source: Handbook p. 31

   “Try the headlight switch a few times. If that does not work, put on the emergency flashers, turn signals or fog lights if you have them.”
   New Mexico Driver Manual, Handbook p. 31

6. If the gas pedal sticks, keep your eyes on the road and quickly shift to neutral.

   Source: Handbook p. 31

   “Keep your eyes on the road. Quickly shift to neutral.”
   New Mexico Driver Manual, Handbook p. 31

7. With ABS, press the brake pedal as hard as you can and keep pressing on it.

   Source: Handbook p. 32

   “Press on the brake pedal as hard as you can and keep pressing on it.”
   New Mexico Driver Manual, Handbook p. 32

8. In a skid, stay off the brake and steer where you want the vehicle to go.

   Source: Handbook p. 33

   “Stay off the brake. Until the vehicle slows, your brakes will not work and could cause you to skid more. Steer. Turn the steering wheel in the direction you want the vehicle to go.”
   New Mexico Driver Manual, Handbook p. 33

3 questions from the New Mexico practice test

1. 1. What should a driver try first if the brake pedal suddenly stops working?

   1. Pull the parking brake as hard and fast as possible
   2. Turn the steering wheel sharply into traffic
   3. Switch off the engine and remove the key
   4. Pump the brake pedal several times
   Show answer

   Pump the brake pedal several times. Repeatedly pumping the pedal may rebuild enough hydraulic pressure to stop the vehicle, so it is the first response listed for brake failure. If that does not work, the driver can apply the parking brake gradually, then shift to lower gears while searching for a safe place off the roadway. A sudden, hard parking-brake pull can lock the rear wheels and produce a skid. Switching off the engine or steering into traffic removes useful control. Keep the vehicle pointed safely and do not continue driving after braking has failed.

2. 2. If the gas pedal sticks and the motor keeps accelerating, what should you do right away?

   1. Apply the parking brake as the first action
   2. Reach down and pull the pedal with both hands
   3. Turn sharply onto the shoulder before looking
   4. Keep your eyes on the road and shift to neutral
   Show answer

   Keep your eyes on the road and shift to neutral. A stuck gas pedal demands control before anything else. Keep looking where the vehicle is going, then quickly shift to neutral so engine power no longer drives the wheels. Reaching down for the pedal takes eyes and hands away from control, and a sharp turn before checking the roadway can cause a crash. The parking brake is not listed as the first response for this problem. Once the vehicle is no longer accelerating, pull off when safe and turn off the engine.

3. 3. If a vehicle begins to skid, what steering response does the manual recommend?

   1. Turn the wheel opposite the intended path and hold it there
   2. Steer in the direction the driver wants the vehicle to go
   3. Lock the wheels with a hard brake application
   4. Close the eyes and wait for the tires to recover
   Show answer

   Steer in the direction the driver wants the vehicle to go. During a skid, the driver should stay off the brake and steer toward the desired path. As the vehicle starts to straighten, steering must be corrected back in the other direction so it does not swing into a second skid. A hard brake application can worsen the loss of grip, and holding the wheel opposite the desired route gives up control of where the vehicle travels. Smooth, continuing corrections are safer than one dramatic movement. The best prevention is to reduce speed for wet, snowy, icy, or otherwise changing road conditions.

Source: the New Mexico Driver Manual, Emergencies. 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.