Skids, blowouts and vehicle emergencies

Key points

1. The most important rule in any emergency is do not panic.

   Source: Chapter 10

   “The most important rule in any emergency is do not panic.”
   New York State Driver's Manual, Chapter 10

2. If your rear wheels skid, turn the steering wheel in the direction the vehicle is trying to go.

   Source: Chapter 10

   “If your rear wheels start to skid: Turn the steering wheel in the direction the vehicle is trying to go.”
   New York State Driver's Manual, Chapter 10

3. In a skid, keep even pressure on the brake if you have anti lock brakes (ABS); without ABS, pump the pedal carefully.

   Source: Chapter 10

   “If your vehicle has anti-lock brakes (ABS), keep your foot with even pressure on the brake pedal. If your vehicle does not have ABS, pump the pedal carefully.”
   New York State Driver's Manual, Chapter 10

4. If your front wheels skid, take your foot off the gas and shift to neutral, but do not try to steer right away.

   Source: Chapter 10

   “If your front wheels skid: Take your foot off the gas and shift to neutral or push in the clutch, but do not try to immediately steer.”
   New York State Driver's Manual, Chapter 10

5. After a blowout, hold the wheel tightly and slowly lift off the gas; do not brake until the vehicle is under control.

   Source: Chapter 10

   “If a tire blows out, hold the steering wheel tightly and slowly take your foot off the gas pedal. If your vehicle skids, handle it as you would on ice or snow. Do not use your brake until your vehicle is controlled.”
   New York State Driver's Manual, Chapter 10

6. If the brake pedal drops to the floor, pump it; if that fails, apply the emergency or parking brake gradually.

   Source: Chapter 10

   “If your brake pedal suddenly goes to the floor, try pumping it to increase pressure. If that does not help, use your emergency or parking brake if you can apply it gradually”
   New York State Driver's Manual, Chapter 10

7. For a stuck gas pedal, try to free it with your shoe; if you cannot, shift to neutral, brake and leave the road without turning off the ignition.

   Source: Chapter 10

   “Hook your shoe under the pedal and see if you can free it. If not, shift into neutral and use the brake to slow your vehicle and get off the road. Do not turn off the ignition as you could lose your steering control or lock your steering wheel.”
   New York State Driver's Manual, Chapter 10

8. If your wheels drop off the pavement, do not swerve back; ease off the gas and brake gently first.

   Source: Chapter 10

   “If your wheels move off the pavement, do not suddenly steer or swerve back onto the pavement. Ease your foot off the gas pedal and brake gently.”
   New York State Driver's Manual, Chapter 10

9. If a vehicle comes at you head on in your lane, slow down, pull to the right and sound your horn; do not swerve into the left lane.

   Source: Chapter 10

   “Decrease speed, pull over to the right and sound your horn to warn the other driver. Do not turn into the left lane.”
   New York State Driver's Manual, Chapter 10

10. If smoke comes from under the hood, pull off, turn off the ignition, get away from the car and call the fire department.

    Source: Chapter 10

    “If you see smoke come from under the hood, pull off the road and park your vehicle. Turn off the ignition. Get away from the car and call the fire department.”
    New York State Driver's Manual, Chapter 10

3 questions from the New York practice test

1. 1. If a New York driver's brake pedal suddenly goes to the floor, what should be tried first?

   1. Turn off the ignition immediately
   2. Pump the pedal to increase pressure
   3. Shift into reverse at once
   4. Pull the parking brake sharply
   Show answer

   Pump the pedal to increase pressure. The manual's first step for a brake pedal that suddenly goes to the floor is to pump the pedal to try to increase pressure. If that does not help, use the emergency or parking brake, applying it gradually and gently, and shift to a lower gear to help the vehicle lose speed. Turning off the ignition and shifting into reverse are not steps the manual lists, and yanking the parking brake ignores the instruction to apply it gently. The cue is controlled pressure in order: pump, then parking brake, then lower gear.

2. 2. When a New York vehicle's rear wheels begin to skid, which way should the driver steer?

   1. Hard opposite the skid
   2. Straight while accelerating
   3. In the direction the vehicle is trying to go
   4. Toward the nearest shoulder regardless of direction
   Show answer

   In the direction the vehicle is trying to go. For a rear-wheel skid, New York advises turning the steering wheel in the direction the vehicle is trying to go. If the rear slides left, steer left; if it slides right, steer right. A hard opposite turn can produce a second skid, while acceleration or an automatic shoulder move does not restore the intended path. Ease off the gas, keep movements smooth, and be ready to adjust as the vehicle recovers. The steering direction follows the slide, not the driver's fear of it.

3. 3. A New York driver cannot free a stuck gas pedal. What should happen next?

   1. Turn off the ignition while moving quickly
   2. Shift into park and keep pressing the accelerator
   3. Shift into neutral, brake to slow, and leave the roadway
   4. Use the shoulder only after reaching the next exit
   Show answer

   Shift into neutral, brake to slow, and leave the roadway. For a stuck gas pedal, the manual first suggests hooking your shoe under the pedal to try to free it. If that fails, shift into neutral, use the brake to slow the vehicle, and get off the road. Neutral removes engine power from the wheels while braking controls speed. The manual warns not to turn off the ignition, because you could lose steering control or lock the steering wheel. Keeping your foot on the accelerator only adds power, and waiting for the next exit delays getting out of the travel lane.

Source: the New York State Driver's Manual, Chapter 10: Special Driving Conditions. 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.