WYDOT Emergency Procedures and Accident Response 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: If your brakes fail on a Wyoming mountain descent, what is the recommended first action?
- Steer into the mountainside immediately
- Downshift to a lower gear to use engine braking and look for a runaway truck ramp (Correct answer)
- Pump the emergency brake rapidly while maintaining speed
- Turn off the ignition and coast to a stop
Correct answer: Downshift to a lower gear to use engine braking and look for a runaway truck ramp
Engine braking by downshifting slows the vehicle without relying on failed brakes; runaway truck ramps on Wyoming mountain roads provide emergency stopping.
Question 2: What does WYDOT's Tow-to-Go or 'Move It' program encourage after a minor accident?
- Waiting for a WYDOT team to move your vehicle at no cost
- Moving vehicles out of traffic lanes to a safe area before exchanging information if both drivers agree (Correct answer)
- Calling WYDOT dispatch before any vehicle is moved
- Leaving the scene and settling by mail only
Correct answer: Moving vehicles out of traffic lanes to a safe area before exchanging information if both drivers agree
Wyoming encourages drivers in minor crashes to move vehicles to a safe spot — like a parking lot — before exchanging information to reduce highway hazards.
Question 3: When approaching a crash scene on a Wyoming highway, you should:
- Speed past quickly to avoid being involved
- Slow down, move over if possible, and avoid gawking to maintain traffic flow (Correct answer)
- Stop your vehicle adjacent to the scene to offer help immediately
- Turn on your hazard lights and continue at normal speed
Correct answer: Slow down, move over if possible, and avoid gawking to maintain traffic flow
Approaching a crash site requires slowing down, moving over when safe, and keeping eyes on the road — gawking causes secondary accidents.
Question 4: What information are you legally required to provide to the other driver after a Wyoming accident?
- Your name, address, vehicle registration, and insurance information (Correct answer)
- Only your driver's license number
- Your name and phone number only
- Insurance information only, not personal details
Correct answer: Your name, address, vehicle registration, and insurance information
Wyoming law requires you to exchange your name, address, vehicle registration number, and proof of insurance with any other involved driver.
Question 5: If you witness a serious accident on a Wyoming highway where people appear injured, you should:
- Drive past and call 911 from a safe distance only if no other witnesses stop
- Stop safely away from the scene, call 911, and render first aid only if you are trained to do so (Correct answer)
- Pull directly alongside the crashed vehicle immediately
- Move injured persons from their vehicles to a safer location right away
Correct answer: Stop safely away from the scene, call 911, and render first aid only if you are trained to do so
Stop safely nearby, call 911 immediately, and offer first aid only if trained — untrained movement of injured persons can cause additional harm.
Question 6: If you hit a deer or large animal on a Wyoming highway, you should:
- Leave the animal on the road and continue driving
- Move the animal off the road and report the collision if significant damage occurred (Correct answer)
- Only report it if another vehicle is involved
- Call WYDOT even for minor deer strikes with no damage
Correct answer: Move the animal off the road and report the collision if significant damage occurred
In Wyoming, you should move a dead animal off the road when safe and report the collision if your vehicle sustained reportable damage.
WYDOT Emergency Procedures and Accident Response 2
If your brakes fail on a Wyoming mountain descent, what is the recommended first action?