California DMV · Class C · Based on the 2025 California Driver’s Handbook
California DMV Driving Emergencies Practice Test (2026)
Emergency questions test what to do in skids, brake trouble, blowouts, running off the pavement, and stalling on train tracks. The key rule for a skid on a slippery surface: slowly take your foot off the accelerator, do not use the brakes, and turn the steering wheel in the direction of the skid.
Free practice questions
1A tire blows out while you're driving — what should you do?
- A Stop right away to check it
- B Keep both hands firmly on the wheel
- C Honk the horn
- D Switch on the turn signal
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B — Correct. The handbook's first step for a blowout is to hold the steering wheel firmly with both hands, then gradually ease off the gas, correct your steering, and pull over.
Why the other options are wrong
- A Incorrect. The handbook says not to panic or overreact during a blowout; stopping immediately usually means braking hard, which can cause you to lose control.
- C Incorrect. Honking does nothing to help you regain control of the vehicle and is not one of the handbook's blowout steps.
- D Incorrect. Signaling comes later, when the vehicle is stable and you pull over; at the moment of a blowout the priority is holding the wheel steady.
Handbook: §8 Tire blowout
2The brake pedal suddenly sinks straight to the floor while you're driving — how do you respond?
- A Pump the pedal quickly, pressing and releasing
- B Stop driving
- C Shift to neutral and kill the engine
- D Try to hook the pedal back up with your toe
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A — Correct. The handbook says that if the pedal sinks to the floor, pump it quickly (press and release repeatedly) to build up remaining brake pressure.
Why the other options are wrong
- B Incorrect. When the brakes have failed, you cannot simply stop; the correct order is to pump the brakes, shift to a lower gear or neutral, then use the parking brake to stop.
- C Incorrect. The handbook does not include turning off the engine; doing so cuts power steering and brake assist, making the car even harder to control.
- D Incorrect. A sinking pedal is caused by a loss of hydraulic pressure; hooking the pedal back up with your toe does nothing.
Handbook: §8 Brake failure
3How do you alert other drivers when your car breaks down or you hit an emergency?
- A Turn on your hazard flashers
- B Step on the gas and speed up
- C Hold the horn down continuously
- D Repeatedly flick your headlights
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A — Correct. Per the handbook, if you must stop because of a collision or vehicle breakdown ahead, turn on your emergency flashers to warn other drivers.
Why the other options are wrong
- B Incorrect. Speeding up does not signal that you need help, and accelerating with a malfunctioning vehicle makes things more dangerous.
- C Incorrect. Per the handbook, the horn is for avoiding collisions or warning at blind curves on mountain roads; holding it down does not communicate a breakdown.
- D Incorrect. Flashing your headlights is generally used to remind oncoming drivers to dim their high beams; the handbook does not list it as an emergency warning method.
Handbook: §5 Using emergency flashers
Practice all 16 Emergencies questions
The full bank has 1,000+ questions across 15 topics, each explained option by option and available in 8 languages beside the original English.
What you need to know
- Slippery-surface skid: slowly remove your foot from the accelerator, do not use the brakes, turn the steering wheel in the direction of the skid, and try to get a wheel on dry pavement. §8
- Locked-wheel skid: with four-wheel ABS, apply firm pressure on the brake pedal; without ABS, quickly pump the brakes until you reach a safe speed. §8
- If the brake pedal sinks to the floor, quickly pump the brakes; then downshift into a lower or neutral gear and try the emergency brake to stop. §8
- Tire blowout: hold the wheel with both hands, keep your speed if safe, gradually release the accelerator, steer where you want to go, and pull off only after the car is stable — do not brake suddenly. §8
- If your wheels drift off the pavement: grip the wheel firmly, take your foot off the accelerator, brake gently, check traffic behind, and steer back carefully without jerking the wheel. §8
- If your vehicle stalls on railroad tracks with a train coming, get out immediately and run diagonally away from the tracks in the direction the train is coming from, then call 911. §8
- If you must stop for vehicle trouble, turn on emergency flashers, pull off the road if possible, and never stop just over a hill or around a curve. §5
- If your brakes get wet, dry them by lightly pressing the accelerator and brake pedals at the same time, only until they dry. §8
Common traps on the test
- Slamming the brakes during a tire blowout or hydroplane — sudden braking can cause loss of control.
- Running away from stalled-on-tracks danger in the same direction the train is traveling — run diagonally toward the direction the train is coming from so debris does not hit you.
- Pumping the brakes in a car with four-wheel ABS — with four-wheel ABS you apply firm, steady pressure.
FAQ
What should you do if your brakes fail?
If the pedal sinks to the floor, pump the brakes quickly. If that does not work, downshift into a lower or neutral gear and then use the emergency (parking) brake to stop.
What do you do if your car stalls on railroad tracks?
If a train is coming, get out immediately and run diagonally away from the tracks toward the direction the train is coming from, then call 911. If no train is coming, get out and call the number posted at the crossing, then 911.