Key points
If you cannot get your vehicle off the road, stop where others have a clear view, not just over a hill or around a curve.
Source: PDF page 70
“Stop where other drivers have a clear view of your vehicle, especially if you can’t get your vehicle off the road. Avoid stopping just over a hill or around a curve.”
Washington Driver Guide (plain-text version), PDF page 70Place emergency flares 200 to 300 feet behind the vehicle.
Source: PDF page 70
“Warn other road users by placing emergency flares 200 to 300 feet behind the vehicle.”
Washington Driver Guide (plain-text version), PDF page 70If a tire blows out, grip the wheel firmly, keep straight, take your foot off the accelerator and do not brake.
Source: PDF page 70
“Grip the steering wheel firmly and keep the vehicle going straight. Slow down gradually. Take your foot off the accelerator. Do not brake.”
Washington Driver Guide (plain-text version), PDF page 70If the engine dies, keep a strong grip; the wheel may be hard to turn but will still turn.
Source: PDF page 70
“Keep a strong grip on the steering wheel. Be aware that the steering wheel might be difficult to turn, but you can turn it.”
Washington Driver Guide (plain-text version), PDF page 70If the accelerator sticks, quickly shift to neutral and pull off when safe.
Source: PDF page 71
“Quickly shift to neutral. Pull off the road when safe to do so. Turn off the engine.”
Washington Driver Guide (plain-text version), PDF page 71After a crash, do not drive away; if anyone is hurt or killed, call 911.
Source: PDF page 71
“Do not drive away. If anyone is injured or killed, call 911. Law enforcement must be notified.”
Washington Driver Guide (plain-text version), PDF page 71If you hit a parked vehicle and cannot find the owner, leave a note with the date, time and your contact information.
Source: PDF page 71
“If you cannot, leave a note in a place where they can easily see it. Include the date and time of collision and your contact information.”
Washington Driver Guide (plain-text version), PDF page 71File a collision report within 4 days if an officer does not do it for you.
Source: PDF page 72
“File a collision report form, within 4 days of a crash, if a law enforcement officer doesn’t do this for you.”
Washington Driver Guide (plain-text version), PDF page 72If power lines fall on your vehicle, stay inside and call 911.
Source: PDF page 73
“If power lines fall on your vehicle, or if you hit a transformer box, stay in your vehicle and call 911.”
Washington Driver Guide (plain-text version), PDF page 73If a fire forces you out, jump clear with both feet together and shuffle 35 feet away.
Source: PDF page 73
“Make sure both feet land together. To avoid electric shock, shuffle 35 feet away to safety.”
Washington Driver Guide (plain-text version), PDF page 73
Numbers to know
| Number | What it means | Manual |
|---|---|---|
| 200 to 300 feet | where to place flares behind a disabled vehicle | PDF page 70 |
| 4 days | deadline to file a collision report yourself | PDF page 72 |
| 35 feet | safe distance from a vehicle touching power lines | PDF page 73 |
| 911 | number to call when someone is injured or power lines are down | PDF page 71 |
| 15 days | time to follow the instructions on a ticket to avoid suspension | PDF page 75 |
3 questions from the Washington practice test
1. How far behind a disabled vehicle should a Washington driver place emergency flares?
- 200 to 300 feet behind the vehicle
- 50 feet
- 1,000 feet
- 10 to 20 feet
Show answer
200 to 300 feet behind the vehicle. If your vehicle has trouble, get it off the road and away from traffic, turn on the emergency flashers and headlights, and warn other road users by placing emergency flares 200 to 300 feet behind the vehicle. Without flares, stand somewhere safe and wave traffic around. Lift the hood or tie a white cloth to the antenna, mirror or door handle to signal an emergency.
2. Power lines fall on your vehicle in Washington. What does the guide say to do?
- Get out immediately and run
- Stay in the vehicle and call 911
- Touch the lines to check if they are live
- Drive away slowly
Show answer
Stay in the vehicle and call 911. If power lines fall on your vehicle, or if you hit a transformer box, stay in your vehicle and call 911. Assume every line is energized; the ground around the vehicle may be energized too, so encourage people to stay at least 35 feet away. Only if a fire starts should you leave, by jumping clear with both feet together and shuffling 35 feet to safety without touching the vehicle.
3. A tire suddenly blows out while you are driving. What should you do?
- Brake hard immediately and turn sharply
- Grip the steering wheel, keep straight, and slow gradually
- Open the door and jump out
- Accelerate to keep the tire rotating
Show answer
Grip the steering wheel, keep straight, and slow gradually. A blown tire can pull the vehicle and make a sudden correction dangerous. Grip the steering wheel firmly, keep the vehicle going straight, and slow down gradually by taking your foot off the accelerator. Hard braking is the wrong first move because it can upset the vehicle, while acceleration adds speed and opening a door creates another hazard. Once speed has fallen, pull off in a safe place if possible and turn on the emergency flashers. The practical cue is to stabilize the path first, then reduce speed and deal with the tire away from traffic.
Practice this topic
Lock it in with emergencies questions from the free Washington practice test. Every answer comes with a plain English explanation.
Source: the Washington Driver Guide (plain-text version), Chapter 5: Hazards. 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.