Handling Emergencies on the Road: What Every New Driver Should Know

For a new driver, the “what if” scenarios can be the most stressful part of getting behind the wheel. What if a tire blows out on the highway? What if the brakes suddenly feel soft? What if steam starts pouring from under the hood?

While these driving emergencies in WA are rare, being prepared is the key to staying safe.

The most important moments in an emergency happen before you panic. Having a clear, pre-planned set of actions is the most powerful tool you have. This guide will walk you through exactly what to do, step-by-step, to handle the most common roadside emergencies.

Staying Calm When Your Car Has a Problem

The first rule in any driving emergency is the hardest one to follow: Do not panic.

Panic leads to sudden, jerky movements—slamming the brakes or wrenching the steering wheel, which are almost always the wrong things to do. The instant you sense something is wrong, take a deep breath and focus on two things:

1. Controlling the vehicle.
2. Getting to a safe location.

A calm mind can assess the situation, remember the right steps, and take control. This ability to act, not panic, is a skill built through quality, hands-on training and a solid understanding of vehicle mechanics.  The common theme to all emergencies situations is to avoid an abrupt response, whether that is the brakes or turning the wheel.

How to Handle Brake or Tire Issues Safely?

These are two of the most frightening emergencies, as they directly impact your control of the car. Here’s the correct, safe procedure for each.

What to Do: Tire Blowout

A blowout will feel like a sudden, violent “lurch” or “shudder,” and the car will pull hard toward the side of the failed tire.

• Step 1: Grip the Wheel. Hold the steering wheel with two hands, firmly. Your only job is to keep the car going straight in its lane.
• Step 2: DO NOT Slam the Brakes. This is the critical step. Braking will shift the car’s weight, increase the pull, and likely cause you to lose control and spin.
• Step 3: Ease Off the Accelerator. Gently remove your foot from the gas. Let the car slow down on its own.
• Step 4: Pull Over Safely. Only when your speed is low (under 30 mph) should you gently apply the brakes and steer to a safe spot far off the road. Turn on your hazard lights.

What to Do: Brake Failure

Except for in the movies, this is often not a sudden, total failure but a “mushy” or “soft” pedal that goes to the floor.

• Step 1: Pump the Brake Pedal. Pump the brakes hard and fast. If there is a small leak or issue, this may build up just enough pressure to slow you down.
• Step 2: Downshift. Shift your car into a lower gear (L, 2, or 1 for automatics). This uses the engine to slow the car down (called “engine braking”).
• Step 3: Use the Parking Brake. Slowly y steadily apply your parking brake (e-brake). If you apply the e-brake too quickly, you can lock the rear wheels and skid. Apply a steady pressure., whether that is pulling up on a hand brake or pushing down on a foot brake.  If you have an electronic parking brake, you will need to hold constant pressure on the button for the brakes to engage (if you push and let go, the electronic brake will not engage).
• Step 4: Steer to Safety. As the car slows, look for a safe place to pull off the road. If you must, steering into an uphill road or even a grassy area is better than entering a busy intersection.

What to Do: Engine Overheating

You’ll know this by the temperature gauge on your dash climbing into the red or by steam coming from the hood.

• Step 1: Turn Off the AC, Turn On the Heat. Immediately turn off your air conditioner to reduce engine strain. Then, turn your car’s heater on full blast. This pulls heat away from the engine and into the car’s cabin. It will get hot, but it can help save your engine.
• Step 2: Pull Over and Turn Off the Engine. Find a safe place and shut the car off immediately.
• Step 3: DO NOT Open the Radiator Cap. The cooling system is under extreme pressure and is scalding hot. Opening the cap can cause severe burns. Let the car cool down for at least 30-45 minutes before calling for help or attempting to look.
• Step 4: Once cool, add coolant and/or water to the reservoir and proceed directly to a service station to check for leaks.

What to Do in Case of an Accident or Breakdown

Once you’ve stopped, the emergency isn’t over. Roadside safety in WA is critical, especially on busy highways.

Safe Roadside Procedures

1. Get Off the Road: Your priority is to get your vehicle as far off the road as possible. Pull onto the shoulder, a side street, or into a parking lot.
2. Be Visible: Turn on your hazard lights immediately. This is the universal signal for a disabled vehicle.  Leave you lights on low beam in low light environments.
3. Stay in the Car: In most cases, the safest place to be is inside your vehicle with your seatbelt on. This protects you from traffic if your car is struck. Only exit the vehicle if it is on fire or in another immediate danger.
4. Call for Help: Call 911 if you are in a dangerous spot, have been in an accident, or need emergency services. For mechanical failures, call a roadside assistance service.
5. Know the “Move Over” Law: In Washington, drivers are required by law to move over one lane or, if unable, to slow down significantly when passing an emergency vehicle or any disabled vehicle with its hazard lights on. By staying in your car and keeping your lights on, you are signaling to other drivers to give you space.

WMST’s Emergency Preparedness and Training Tips

At WMST, we believe the best way to handle an emergency is to be a prepared, confident driver before one ever happens. Our high-quality curriculum, built on national standards, focuses on building the deep-seated skills and muscle memory needed to react correctly under pressure.

This is why we provide six full hours of actual, behind-the-wheel training with a licensed instructor. We find that this real-world experience, navigating real-time situations, is far more effective than outdated simulations at building the calm confidence needed to handle the unexpected.

Proactive safety is also key. We teach our students to use the 4-second following distance, a critical habit that gives you more time to react and can prevent a minor issue from becoming a major emergency in the first place.

For a complete overview of all state regulations and safety procedures, we always recommend new drivers and their families read the official Washington Driver Guide, which is available online from the Department of Licensing.

Preguntas frecuentes (FAQ)

What should I do if my brakes fail while driving? 

First, do not panic. Take your foot off the gas and pump the brake pedal hard and fast. Downshift to a lower gear to let the engine help slow you down. Slowly and steadily apply the parking brake. Steer to a safe location off the road.

How do I safely change a tire on the roadside? 

Safely changing a tire requires you to be on flat, stable ground, as far from traffic as possible. If you are on the shoulder of a busy highway or are unsure, it is much safer to stay in your locked vehicle and call for professional roadside assistance.

When should I call 911 after an accident? 

In Washington, you should always call 911 if there are any injuries, if the collision is blocking traffic, or if a driver appears to be under the influence. It is also wise to call if there is significant damage to property.

Is engine overheating dangerous? 

Yes. Continuing to drive an overheating engine can cause catastrophic and expensive damage, potentially cracking the engine block. More immediately, the steam can be scalding, and panicking to pull over can cause an accident. Follow the steps to pull over safely and wait for the engine to cool completely.

Does WMST simulate emergency driving situations? 

Washington State allows one drive session to be replace by three hours of virtual driving simulations for its driver educationAt WMST, we focus on a method we believe is more effective: real-world, hands-on experience. Nuestro six full hours of one-on-one, behind-the-wheel instruction are designed to build core confidence and critical-thinking skills. This practical experience, combined with our high-quality interactive curriculum, prepares new drivers for the realities of the road better than any simulation.