Skids, blowouts, floods and brake trouble

Key points

1. Given a choice, steering around a hazard is usually better than braking, especially above 25 mph.

   Source: Handbook p. 60

   “When you have a choice of either braking or steering to avoid a collision, it is usually better if you can steer to avoid the hazard than to brake, particularly at speeds above 25 mph.”
   Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), Handbook p. 60

2. Sit at least ten inches from your air bag.

   Source: Handbook p. 61

   “being positioned at least ten (10) inches away from your air bag.”
   Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), Handbook p. 61

3. When skidding, do not use your brakes. You risk locking the wheels and losing all steering.

   Source: Handbook p. 61

   “When skidding, do not use your brakes. If you hit the brakes, the skid will be worse. You risk locking your wheels and losing all steering control.”
   Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), Handbook p. 61

4. As little as six inches of water can make you lose control, and two feet carries away most vehicles.

   Source: Handbook p. 62

   “as little as six (6) inches of water can cause you to lose control of your vehicle or truck and can float some small vehicles. Two (2) feet of water will carry away most vehicles”
   Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), Handbook p. 62

5. It is against the law to pass any flood control barrier.

   Source: Handbook p. 62

   “It is against the law to pass any flood control barrier.”
   Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), Handbook p. 62

6. If the brake system warning light comes on, you may have braking in only two of the four wheels.

   Source: Handbook p. 62

   “If your brake system warning light comes on, you may have braking in two (2) of the four (4) wheels”
   Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), Handbook p. 62

7. After a blowout, hold the wheel tightly, do not brake and slowly take your foot off the gas.

   Source: Handbook p. 63

   “Hold the steering wheel tightly. 2. Stay off of your brake! Braking after a blowout will cause you to skid and lose control of your vehicle. 3. Slowly take your foot off of the gas pedal.”
   Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), Handbook p. 63

8. If you drift onto a low shoulder, do not steer sharply or brake suddenly.

   Source: Handbook p. 64

   “The most important things to remember are: do not steer sharply, and do not brake suddenly.”
   Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), Handbook p. 64

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Pennsylvania practice test

1. 1. After a tire blowout, what should a Pennsylvania driver do first?

   1. Hold the steering wheel tightly and stay off the brake
   2. Steer sharply onto the shoulder
   3. Brake hard to stop before the tire comes apart
   4. Accelerate to stabilize the damaged tire
   Show answer

   Hold the steering wheel tightly and stay off the brake. A blowout can pull the vehicle or make one corner drop, so the first response is to keep firm control of the steering wheel. Pennsylvania warns drivers to stay off the brake because braking after the blowout can cause a skid and loss of control. A sharp move toward the shoulder adds a steering disturbance, and acceleration does not repair the tire. After stabilizing the direction, ease off the gas, steer smoothly, and use gentle braking only when the vehicle has slowed.

2. 2. What should a Pennsylvania driver do if the vehicle's brake system warning light appears and braking weakens?

   1. Turn the ignition to lock and coast without steering
   2. Accelerate to restore hydraulic pressure
   3. Push harder on the pedal, shift to a lower gear, and move toward the roadside or next service station
   4. Steer into a parked vehicle to stop immediately
   Show answer

   Push harder on the pedal, shift to a lower gear, and move toward the roadside or next service station. With a brake warning light and reduced braking, a newer split system may still brake two of the four wheels. The pedal may travel farther, so press harder, recognize that stopping distance has increased, and shift to a lower gear to help slow the vehicle. Turning the ignition to lock can remove steering ability, and accelerating or striking a parked car is not a controlled response. Keep the vehicle aimed safely and pull off toward a service station when possible.

3. 3. If an older vehicle's brakes suddenly fail, which initial response does Pennsylvania recommend?

   1. Shift to low gear and look for a place to slow to a stop
   2. Release the steering wheel and coast
   3. Use the parking brake at full force first
   4. Turn the ignition to LOCK immediately
   Show answer

   Shift to low gear and look for a place to slow to a stop. For an older vehicle with sudden brake failure, Pennsylvania lists shifting to low gear and looking for a place to slow to a stop as the first step. Downshifting helps reduce speed while the driver searches for an open place or uphill road. Turning the ignition to LOCK can lock the steering, and releasing control removes the ability to guide the vehicle. The parking brake is a later option if pumping the pedal does not work. Keep steering control and build the response in the manual's order.

Source: the Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), Chapter 3: Learning to Drive. 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.