RTA Vehicle Emergencies and Breakdowns 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Your engine temperature gauge rises into the red zone while driving on the highway. What is the FIRST thing you should do?
- Continue driving to the nearest exit
- Turn off the air conditioning and turn on the heater (Correct answer)
- Stop immediately on the shoulder and call for help
- Pour cold water on the engine immediately
Correct answer: Turn off the air conditioning and turn on the heater
Turning off the AC reduces engine load and turning on the heater dissipates heat, which may prevent serious damage while you safely exit.
Question 2: You experience sudden brake failure while driving. Which action should you take FIRST?
- Steer into a guardrail to stop
- Pump the brake pedal rapidly (Correct answer)
- Shift to neutral and coast to a stop
- Apply the parking brake fully and immediately
Correct answer: Pump the brake pedal rapidly
Rapidly pumping the brake pedal can rebuild hydraulic pressure in the brake system and may restore braking ability.
Question 3: When your vehicle becomes stuck in snow, you should avoid which of the following actions?
- Spinning the wheels rapidly to gain traction (Correct answer)
- Clearing snow from around all four tires
- Turning the steering wheel side to side
- Using sand or kitty litter under the tires
Correct answer: Spinning the wheels rapidly to gain traction
Spinning wheels rapidly in snow digs the vehicle deeper and can overheat the transmission or damage tires.
Question 4: If your accelerator pedal sticks while driving, what should you do?
- Apply the brakes firmly and turn off the ignition immediately
- Shift to neutral, apply brakes, and steer to safety (Correct answer)
- Increase steering input to counteract acceleration
- Pump the accelerator to free it while braking
Correct answer: Shift to neutral, apply brakes, and steer to safety
Shifting to neutral disengages the engine from the drivetrain, allowing you to brake safely without cutting power suddenly.
Question 5: Your vehicle's power steering fails while you are driving. You should expect:
- The steering wheel to lock completely
- Steering to become significantly heavier requiring more effort (Correct answer)
- The vehicle to automatically steer straight
- The brakes to also fail simultaneously
Correct answer: Steering to become significantly heavier requiring more effort
Without power assistance, steering is still possible but requires considerably more physical effort from the driver.
Question 6: A fire starts under your vehicle's hood while you are driving. You should:
- Open the hood immediately to assess the fire
- Continue driving to the nearest fire station
- Pull over, turn off the engine, and evacuate the vehicle (Correct answer)
- Pour water from your water bottle on the engine
Correct answer: Pull over, turn off the engine, and evacuate the vehicle
Opening the hood supplies oxygen to a fire and increases danger; evacuating safely and calling 911 is the correct response.
Question 7: What does it mean when your vehicle's ABS warning light stays illuminated while driving?
- Normal braking will be completely disabled
- The anti-lock braking system may not function in an emergency stop (Correct answer)
- The regular brakes will apply automatically
- You must stop immediately as braking is impossible
Correct answer: The anti-lock braking system may not function in an emergency stop
An illuminated ABS light means the anti-lock system may be inoperative, leaving you with conventional brakes but without ABS protection.
RTA Vehicle Emergencies and Breakdowns 2
Your engine temperature gauge rises into the red zone while driving on the highway.
What is the FIRST thing you should do?