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Auto & Transport

Car emergency basics

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Test the decisions that matter in the first seconds of a car emergency.

Question 1

A tyre blows out at speed. What is your first action?

  • Keep a firm grip and ease off the accelerator Correct
  • Brake as hard as possible
  • Steer sharply to the shoulder

Hold the wheel firmly and ease off the accelerator. Avoid hard braking or sharp steering.

Question 2

Your brake pedal suddenly feels soft and sinks to the floor. What do you do?

  • Pump the pedal, change down and stop safely Correct
  • Switch the engine off immediately at speed
  • Ignore it until the next service

Pump the pedal to build pressure, change down through the gears and use the handbrake gently. Stop as soon as it is safe.

Question 3

You break down on a motorway. Where should you stop?

  • On the hard shoulder or emergency area, hazards on Correct
  • In a live lane with hazards on
  • On a bend where drivers cannot see you

Get as far left (or to the hard shoulder/emergency area) as possible, hazards on, then exit on the traffic-free side and wait behind the barrier.

Checklists, decision guides, scenarios and quizzes for the same situation.

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