DMV Practice Pro
Practice
Mock exam
Road signs
🇲🇽 Español
🇲🇽 ES
Home
›
Pennsylvania
›
Emergencies
Pennsylvania Permit Test: Emergencies Practice Questions
Skids, breakdowns, brake failure and what to do after a problem.
Start practicing
Every Pennsylvania topic, mock exams and your progress, right here or in the app.
Question 1
Your car has anti-lock brakes and you must stop suddenly. How should you brake?
Brake, release, then brake again
Firm, continuous pressure; don't pump
Pump the pedal rapidly so the wheels do not lock
Use only the parking brake
Correct answer: Firm, continuous pressure; don't pump
With ABS keep firm, continuous pressure and don't pump; without ABS, press and release repeatedly.
Source: Chapter 3 – Dealing with Driving Emergencies
Question 2
The rear of your vehicle skids to the right. Which way should you steer?
Left
Right
Straight ahead
Brake and hold the wheel
Correct answer: Right
Steer in the direction the rear is skidding—rear to the right, steer right—and don't use the brakes during the skid.
Source: Chapter 3 – Dealing with Driving Emergencies
Question 3
To avoid a collision above 25 mph, is it usually better to brake or steer?
Do neither
Steer around the hazard, if you can
Always brake as hard as you can and hold the wheel straight
Always brake hard
Correct answer: Steer around the hazard, if you can
Above about 25 mph it is usually better to steer around a hazard, because your reaction time to swerve is faster than to brake.
Source: Chapter 3 – Dealing with Driving Emergencies
Question 4
Your accelerator sticks and won't spring back. What should you do?
Pump the gas pedal
Turn the key to LOCK
Reach down and free it by hand
Shift to neutral and brake
Correct answer: Shift to neutral and brake
Keep your eyes on the road, shift to neutral and brake; don't reach down with your hand, and never turn the key to LOCK.
Source: Chapter 3 – Dealing with Driving Emergencies
Question 5
Why should you never turn the ignition to LOCK while the car is moving?
The brakes will lock instantly
The engine will flood
The airbags will deploy
You will lose steering ability
Correct answer: You will lose steering ability
Turn the ignition to OFF if needed, not LOCK, because LOCK disables steering.
Source: Chapter 3 – Dealing with Driving Emergencies
Question 6
A tire blows out. What is the first thing to do?
Brake hard right away to stop before the car pulls
Steer sharply to the shoulder
Hold the steering wheel tightly
Shift into neutral
Correct answer: Hold the steering wheel tightly
Hold the wheel tightly, stay off the brake, ease off the gas, and steer smoothly.
Source: Chapter 3 – Dealing with Driving Emergencies
Question 7
In an older vehicle with sudden brake failure, what should you try after shifting to low gear?
Pump the brake pedal quickly several times
Shift into reverse
Turn the key to LOCK
Open the door
Correct answer: Pump the brake pedal quickly several times
Shift to low gear, pump the brake pedal quickly to build pressure, then use the parking brake if that fails.
Source: Chapter 3 – Dealing with Driving Emergencies
Question 8
Your right wheels drift off onto a low shoulder. What should you do first?
Brake hard
Ease off the gas without braking suddenly
Brake hard so the wheels stop before reaching the ditch
Steer sharply back onto the road
Correct answer: Ease off the gas without braking suddenly
Ease off the gas, avoid sudden braking, straddle the edge, slow to under 25 mph, then gently steer back.
Source: Chapter 3 – Dealing with Driving Emergencies
Question 9
After drifting onto the shoulder, how slow should you be before steering back onto the pavement?
Completely stopped
Under 45 mph
At normal speed
Under 25 mph, ideally near 10 mph
Correct answer: Under 25 mph, ideally near 10 mph
Slow gradually to less than 25 mph, preferably closer to 10 mph, then check traffic and ease back on.
Source: Chapter 3 – Dealing with Driving Emergencies
Question 10
A vehicle approaches head-on in your lane and won't move over. What should you do?
Stop in your lane
Swerve into the left lane, since the other driver is in yours
Honk, then escape to the right
Swerve left
Correct answer: Honk, then escape to the right
Honk first; if the driver doesn't move, try to escape to the right. If a crash is unavoidable, brake firmly and steadily.
Source: Chapter 3 – Dealing with Driving Emergencies
Question 11
Your vehicle breaks down on the highway. Besides pulling off and using flashers, what signals that it's disabled?
Leaving the doors open
Lifting the hood
Opening the trunk
Honking repeatedly
Correct answer: Lifting the hood
Get as far off the road as possible, use hazard flashers and lift the hood to show the vehicle is disabled.
Source: Chapter 3 – Dealing with Driving Emergencies
Question 12
You are trapped on a railroad crossing and a train is coming. What should you do?
Stay buckled inside
Leave the vehicle and get far from the track
Try to restart the engine
Push the car off the tracks with help from your passengers
Correct answer: Leave the vehicle and get far from the track
If trapped on a crossing with a train approaching, quickly leave the vehicle and move as far from the track as you can.
Source: Chapter 3 – Special Circumstances: Railroad Crossings
Question 13
At a crossing with more than one track, a train has just passed. When may you start across?
When the car behind honks
Immediately after it passes
When you can see clearly down both tracks
After counting to five
Correct answer: When you can see clearly down both tracks
Wait until you have a clear view down all tracks; another train may be coming.
Source: Chapter 3 – Special Circumstances: Railroad Crossings
Question 14
Is it safe to stop your vehicle on railroad tracks if traffic backs up?
No; stop where you are entirely clear of the tracks
Yes, as long as no train is visible in either direction
Yes, for under a minute
Only at crossings with gates
Correct answer: No; stop where you are entirely clear of the tracks
Never stop on a track; if traffic is backed up, stop where your vehicle is completely clear of the tracks.
Source: Chapter 3 – Special Circumstances: Railroad Crossings
Question 15
You reach a flooded roadway. What does the manual advise?
Follow a larger vehicle through slowly in its tracks
Turn around and find another route
Drive through slowly
Speed through to avoid stalling
Correct answer: Turn around and find another route
"Turn Around, Don't Drown": find another route; six inches can stall a car and it's illegal to pass a flood barrier.
Source: Chapter 3 – Dealing with Driving Emergencies
All Pennsylvania practice
Other topics
Road Signs
Signals & Pavement Markings
Right-of-Way
Speed Limits
Turning
Lanes & Passing
Parking
Alcohol & Drugs
Safe Driving
Sharing the Road
Licensing
Insurance & Collisions
Teen & Provisional Drivers
Ready for the real test?
Get the full question bank and practice tests that match your state’s exam in the app.
Coming soon
Download on the App Store
Coming soon
Get it on Google Play
Not affiliated with any state DMV or government agency.
Practice questions are written from official driver handbooks. Always check your state DMV for current rules.
Privacy
Terms
Road signs
© 2026 DMV Practice Pro
Home
Practice
Exam
Road signs
Profile