Brakes and locked wheels — California Permit Test

Brakes and locked wheels on the California permit test — 6 rules, each with the reason behind it and a question on it while it is fresh.

The rules

A locked wheel skid is usually caused by braking too hard when you are going too fast, and the vehicle will skid whichever way the steering wheel is turned.

A locked wheel is a sliding wheel, and a sliding wheel does not steer at all.

A locked wheel skid is usually caused by braking too hard when you are going too fast.

California Driver’s Handbook, p.60

To get out of a locked wheel skid in a vehicle with four-wheel antilock braking, apply firm pressure on the brake pedal.

The system does the pumping for you, and easing off only slows it down.

Four-wheel antilock braking system (ABS), apply firm pressure on the brake pedal.

California Driver’s Handbook, p.60

If your vehicle has no antilock braking and begins to skid, quickly pump your brakes until you are at a safe speed.

Pumping gives the wheels a moment to turn, and a turning wheel is one you can steer with.

If your vehicle is not equipped with ABS and begins to skid, quickly pump your brakes until you are at a safe speed.

California Driver’s Handbook, p.61

If you press the brake pedal and it sinks to the floor, quickly pump the brakes by gently applying and releasing pressure.

A pedal that goes to the floor still has some braking left if you can build the pressure back up.

Press the brake pedal and it sinks to the floor, quickly pump the brakes by gently applying and releasing pressure on your brake pedal.

California Driver’s Handbook, p.61

If pumping the brakes does not work, down shift into a lower or neutral gear to slow down, then try using your emergency brake to stop.

The gearbox and the parking brake are the two ways left to slow a car with no brakes.

Pump the brakes, down shift your vehicle into a lower or neutral gear to slow down.

California Driver’s Handbook, p.61

If your brakes get wet you can dry them by lightly pressing the accelerator and brake pedals at the same time, only until the brakes dry.

The friction of the pads against the discs is what burns the water off them.

If your brakes get wet, you can dry them by lightly pressing the accelerator and brake pedals at the same time.

California Driver’s Handbook, p.61

On the test

What usually causes a locked wheel skid?

Braking too hard at too high a speed. A locked wheel is a sliding wheel, and a sliding wheel does not steer at all. California Driver’s Handbook, p.60: “A locked wheel skid is usually caused by braking too hard when you are going too fast.”

How this works

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Where these come from

Every rule here is checked against California Driver’s Handbook, published by the California Department of Motor Vehicles, and against the state code itself. Last checked 2026-09-21.