Key points
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. 60Sit 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. 61When 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. 61As 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. 62It 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. 62If 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. 62After 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. 63If 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
| Number | What it means | Manual |
|---|---|---|
| 25 mph | speed above which steering usually beats braking | Handbook p. 60 |
| 10 inches | minimum distance from the air bag | Handbook p. 61 |
| 6 inches | water that can make you lose control | Handbook p. 62 |
| 2 feet | water that carries away most vehicles | Handbook p. 62 |
3 questions from the Pennsylvania practice test
1. After a tire blowout, what should a Pennsylvania driver do first?
- Hold the steering wheel tightly and stay off the brake
- Steer sharply onto the shoulder
- Brake hard to stop before the tire comes apart
- 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. What should a Pennsylvania driver do if the vehicle's brake system warning light appears and braking weakens?
- Turn the ignition to lock and coast without steering
- Accelerate to restore hydraulic pressure
- Push harder on the pedal, shift to a lower gear, and move toward the roadside or next service station
- 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. The manual notes that steering and braking take more effort with the ignition off, 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. How little water on a flooded road can cause you to lose control of your vehicle?
- At least two feet
- At least three feet
- As little as six inches
- Water never affects control at low speed
Show answer
As little as six inches. On flooded roadways, even at low speeds, as little as six inches of water can cause you to lose control of a car or truck and can float some small vehicles. Two feet of water will carry away most vehicles, including SUVs, so two feet is the carry-away depth, not the point where control is first lost. Three feet overstates the danger threshold, and low speed does not make standing water safe. If water is moving across the road, the safest choice is another route.
Practice this topic
Lock it in with emergencies questions from the free Pennsylvania practice test. Every answer comes with a plain English explanation.
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.