Equipment failure — Connecticut Permit Test

If your brakes stop working, pump the brake pedal several times, which will often build up enough pressure to let you stop.

Most brake failures leave some pressure in the system, and pumping is how you collect what is left.

Pump the brake pedal several times. This will often build up enough brake pressure to allow you to stop.

If pumping does not work, use the parking brake, pulling the handle slowly so you do not lock the rear wheels and cause a skid.

A parking brake yanked hard locks the back wheels, and a car with locked rear wheels spins.

Pull on the parking brake handle slowly so you will not lock the rear wheels and cause a skid.

If the parking brake does not work either, start shifting to lower gears and look for a safe place to slow to a stop, and do not drive the vehicle without brakes.

The engine can take speed off the car when nothing else can, but it will not stop it, so the car has to come off the road.

start shifting to lower gears and look for a safe place to slow to a stop

If a tire suddenly goes flat, hold the steering wheel tightly, keep the vehicle going straight, slow down gradually and pull off the road in a safe place.

A blowout pulls the car sideways. Holding straight and slowing gently is what keeps it on the road.

Hold the steering wheel tightly and keep the vehicle going straight.

If the engine dies while you are driving, keep a strong grip on the steering wheel, which may be difficult to turn but is still possible, and pull off the roadway.

Losing the power assistance makes the wheel heavy, and a driver who was not expecting that stops steering.

Power Failure. If the engine dies while you are driving: • Keep a strong grip on the steering wheel. Be aware that it may be difficult to turn, but it is possible.

With the engine dead the brakes will still work, but you may have to push very hard on the brake pedal.

The assistance is gone rather than the brakes, and a driver who gives up on the pedal has thrown away the stop.

Power Failure. If the engine dies while you are driving: • Keep a strong grip on the steering wheel. Be aware that it may be difficult to turn, but it is possible. • Pull off the roadway. The brakes will still work, but you may have to push very hard on the brake pedal.

If your headlights suddenly go out, slow down gradually and pull off the road as soon as possible, try the switch a few times, and if that fails put on the emergency flashers and do not drive the vehicle.

Driving on without lights makes you invisible, which is a worse problem than the one you started with.

Headlight Failure. If your headlights suddenly go out: • Slow down gradually and pull off the road as soon as possible.

If the gas pedal sticks and the motor keeps going faster, keep your eyes on the road, quickly shift to neutral, pull off the road when safe and turn off the engine.

Neutral disconnects the engine from the wheels at once, which is faster than reaching for the key.

Gas Pedal Sticks. If the motor keeps going faster and faster: • Keep your eyes on the road. • Quickly shift to neutral.

Never turn the ignition to the lock position while the vehicle is still moving, or the steering will lock and you will lose control.

Locking the steering takes away the one control you still had, which is worse than whatever made you reach for the key.

Never turn your vehicle's ignition to the “lock” position while it is still in motion or the steering will lock and you will lose control of your vehicle.

What is the first thing to try when the brakes stop working?

Pump the brake pedal several times. Most brake failures leave some pressure in the system, and pumping is how you collect what is left. Connecticut Driver's Manual, p.39: “Pump the brake pedal several times. This will often build up enough brake pressure to allow you to stop.”