Key points
If you cannot get the car off the road, get everyone out of the car and off the road.
Source: Handbook p. 48
“If you can’t get the car off the road, get everyone out of the car and off the road.”
Texas Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 48Tie a white cloth to the antenna or door handle, or raise the hood.
Source: Handbook p. 48
“Tie a white cloth to your radio antenna, door handle, or some other place where it may be easily seen. If you do not have a white cloth, raise your hood.”
Texas Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 48In a skid, do not brake hard. Take your foot off the gas and turn the wheel in the direction of the skid.
Source: Handbook p. 48
“Do not hit the brakes suddenly and hard. Take your foot off the gas pedal (accelerator). 2. Turn your steering wheel in the direction of the skid.”
Texas Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 48After a flat tire or blowout, take your foot off the gas, brake gently and steer straight to a stop.
Source: Handbook p. 49
“Take your foot off the gas pedal and gently apply the brakes • Steer straight ahead to a stop”
Texas Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 49On a steep downhill, shift to a low gear, and never coast in neutral.
Source: Handbook p. 49
“When driving down a steep hill, you can shift your car into a low gear to help slow your vehicle. Never coast in neutral”
Texas Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 49After a crash with injury or death, stop immediately at or as close as possible to the scene.
Source: Handbook p. 59
“you must immediately stop your vehicle at the scene of the crash (or as close as possible to the scene of the crash) without obstructing traffic more than necessary.”
Texas Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 59If every vehicle can be driven safely, move them from the main lanes to a safe spot such as the frontage road.
Source: Handbook p. 59
“each vehicle involved can be normally and safely driven, drivers must move their vehicle as soon as possible to a designated crash investigation site”
Texas Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 59For a qualifying crash that no officer investigates, you must file a written report with TxDOT no later than the 10th day after the crash.
Source: Handbook p. 59
“you must make a written report of the crash and file it with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) no later than the 10th day after the date of the crash.”
Texas Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 59If you hit an unattended vehicle, find the owner or leave a written note with your name, address and what happened.
Source: Handbook p. 60
“Securely attach a written notice in a visible way to the unattended vehicle providing: • Your name and address • A statement of the circumstances of the collision.”
Texas Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 60Do not move an injured person unless it is absolutely necessary.
Source: Handbook p. 60
“Do not move or lift the victim(s) unless it is absolutely necessary.”
Texas Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 60
Numbers to know
| Number | What it means | Manual |
|---|---|---|
| 10 days | deadline for a written crash report to TxDOT | Handbook p. 59 |
3 questions from the Texas practice test
1. What does the Texas handbook recommend if a vehicle's brakes fail?
- Panic and turn off the engine immediately
- Apply the parking brake as hard as possible at once
- Use the parking brake cautiously and shift to a lower gear
- Shift to neutral and coast without braking
Show answer
Use the parking brake cautiously and shift to a lower gear. If the brakes fail, the handbook advises using the parking brake and shifting to a lower gear. The parking brake should be applied cautiously so the wheels do not lock and throw the car into a skid. Panic is not a control method, an abrupt full-force pull can create a skid, and coasting in neutral removes the benefit of engine braking. Keep the vehicle pointed where you need it to go, reduce speed progressively, and use the available controls deliberately while looking for a safe place to stop.
2. If a vehicle cannot be moved off the road after a breakdown, what should happen first?
- Have everyone remain seated until another driver stops
- Get everyone out of the car and off the road
- Stand behind the car and wave at traffic
- Leave the vehicle in the travel lane with no warning
Show answer
Get everyone out of the car and off the road. When a disabled vehicle cannot be moved off the road, the handbook says to get everyone out of the car and off the road. People near a stranded vehicle are exposed to passing traffic, so moving them away reduces the immediate danger. The occupants should not wait inside a travel lane for help, stand in the lane to signal, or leave the vehicle without warning devices. Portable warning devices can alert approaching drivers, but protecting people from the roadway comes first in the sequence described.
3. After a property-damage-only crash when all vehicles can be safely driven, where should drivers move them?
- Leave them in the main lane until insurance arrives
- Drive directly home without exchanging information
- Move them only if the damage exceeds $10,000
- To a designated crash investigation site or another suitable nearby location
Show answer
To a designated crash investigation site or another suitable nearby location. For a crash involving only vehicle damage, when each vehicle can be normally and safely driven, drivers must move as soon as possible to a designated crash investigation site if available, a frontage road, the nearest suitable cross street, or another suitable location. Leaving vehicles in the main lane increases exposure to a second collision. Driving home skips the required exchange of information, and the handbook does not use a $10,000 threshold for this move. First protect traffic flow, then exchange names, insurance details, and vehicle information.
Practice this topic
Lock it in with emergencies questions from the free Texas practice test. Every answer comes with a plain English explanation.
Source: the Texas Driver Handbook, Chapter 9: Some Special Driving Situations. 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.