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BC Class 7 overview

BC Class 7: Emergency driving strategies

Emergency braking, anti-lock brakes, skid recovery, tire blowouts, brake failure and other breakdowns, animals on the road, collision avoidance and what to do at a crash.

  • 38 questions
  • Topic drill
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Emergency driving strategies · Question 1Score 0/0

Your car breaks down on an isolated road and a stranger offers you a ride. What does the guide advise?

Study reference: Learn to Drive Smart (ICBC, March 2026 edition), Ch. 8 Emergency strategies — Emergency driving strategies, vehicle breakdowns, animals on the road, collision avoidance, at the scene of a crash, pp. 115–117, 126–133

All 38 questions in this test

Every question and its answer choices. The correct answers and explanations appear when you take the test above.

  1. Your car breaks down on an isolated road and a stranger offers you a ride. What does the guide advise?

    1. Accept if they seem friendly enough
    2. Ask them to tow your car to town
    3. Ask them to go on and phone for help
    4. Accept, but leave a note in your car

  2. Your brakes suddenly fail. Which step does the guide recommend?

    1. Yank the parking brake on
    2. Turn the ignition off
    3. Shift straight into neutral and coast
    4. Pump the brakes hard and fast

  3. Your gas pedal sticks at highway speed. What should you never do?

    1. Apply the brakes firmly and steadily
    2. Shift the transmission into neutral
    3. Reach down and free it by hand
    4. Look for an escape path off the road

  4. What is the key to emergency braking?

    1. Pump the brake pedal slowly and gently
    2. Lock the wheels so you stop sooner
    3. Shift into neutral, then brake
    4. Stop fast without locking the wheels

  5. Where does the guide say you should practise emergency braking and skid control?

    1. On the highway during light traffic
    2. In any parking lot, by yourself
    3. On a quiet residential street at night
    4. In a safe place with an expert driver

  6. Using the parking brake after your brakes fail, how should you apply it?

    1. Gently and gradually, holding the release
    2. All at once, as hard as possible
    3. In quick, hard jerks every second
    4. Only once the car has come to a full stop

  7. You hit black ice and the rear of your car slides to the right. What should you do?

    1. Brake firmly and hold the wheel straight
    2. Brake hard and steer left
    3. Ease off the gas and steer right
    4. Accelerate and steer left

  8. You are involved in a crash. What are you legally required to do?

    1. Leave if no one looks hurt
    2. Move on once the police arrive
    3. Remain at the scene
    4. Drive home and call ICBC

  9. The guide compares hitting a solid object at 60 km/h to a vehicle falling from what height?

    1. The roof of a one-storey building
    2. The roof of a four-storey building
    3. The roof of a two-storey building
    4. The roof of a twelve-storey building

  10. Smoke and flames are coming from under your hood. What should you do?

    1. Open the hood to check the fire
    2. Get everyone out and move well away
    3. Keep driving to a service station
    4. Stay inside with all the windows rolled up

  11. You stop to help at a crash. What should you prevent anyone from doing near the scene?

    1. Calling emergency services
    2. Smoking or lighting matches
    3. Setting out warning triangles
    4. Staying with injured people

  12. According to the guide, what is the main cause of skidding?

    1. Worn-out tires
    2. Mechanical failures
    3. Rain and ice
    4. Poor driving skills

  13. You shifted to neutral after the gas pedal stuck and have now stopped safely. What next?

    1. Rev the engine hard to free the stuck pedal
    2. Restart the engine to test the pedal
    3. Turn off the engine and call for help
    4. Shift back to drive and carry on

  14. Why should you avoid pumping the brakes in a vehicle with ABS?

    1. Pumping makes the steering lock
    2. Pumping overheats the brake fluid
    3. Pumping sets off the airbags
    4. Pumping turns the ABS system off

  15. You are driving past a crash scene that police are already handling. What should you avoid?

    1. Watching for emergency crews
    2. Staying focused on the road
    3. Keeping a safe distance ahead
    4. Slowing more than necessary

  16. Your headlights suddenly go out at night. What should you try first?

    1. Switch to parking lights and continue
    2. Use your fog lights and keep going
    3. Follow the tail lights of another car
    4. Flick the switch on and off quickly

  17. Your front right tire blows out at highway speed. Which way will the car tend to pull?

    1. To the right
    2. To the left
    3. Into a rear skid
    4. Straight ahead

  18. Your engine fails on a busy freeway. Where should you try hardest to avoid stopping?

    1. At the nearest exit ramp
    2. In a highway service area
    3. On the far right shoulder
    4. On a bridge or in a tunnel

  19. Your engine stalls while you're moving. Why shouldn't you turn the ignition off?

    1. The horn will stop working
    2. The airbags will deploy
    3. The brakes will lock
    4. The steering will lock

  20. While practising hard braking with ABS, you hear noise and feel the pedal shudder. What does this mean?

    1. The wheels have locked
    2. It is normal for ABS
    3. The brakes are failing
    4. You should pump the pedal

  21. To practise ABS braking in a safe place, the guide suggests reaching what speed before braking hard?

    1. 30 km/h
    2. 15 km/h
    3. 60 km/h
    4. 50 km/h

  22. Your car has no ABS, and it starts to skid as you brake hard. What should you do?

    1. Press the gas pedal to regain grip
    2. Release quickly, then brake hard again
    3. Turn the steering wheel sharply
    4. Hold the brake pedal down even harder

  23. Which action is most likely to cause a skid?

    1. Slowing down before a curve
    2. Steering smoothly through a turn
    3. Slamming on the brakes while steering
    4. Easing off the gas pedal gently on ice

  24. After a crash, which of these must you give the other driver?

    1. The registered owner's name and address
    2. Your date of birth and age
    3. Your employer's name and phone number
    4. Your driving school's details

  25. Without ABS, when might you deliberately lock the brakes?

    1. Whenever another car is close behind you
    2. When stopping matters more than steering
    3. Whenever you are going downhill
    4. Whenever the road is wet or icy

  26. Your car has ABS and a child runs into the road. How should you brake?

    1. Pump the brake pedal rapidly to stop
    2. Pull the parking brake hard
    3. Brake lightly, then let go
    4. Press hard and hold until you stop

  27. A crash can't be avoided. What should you try to steer toward?

    1. A row of parked cars
    2. Bushes or a high snowbank
    3. A large, solid tree
    4. A concrete highway wall

  28. Driving at night, you notice small, unusual spots of light on the road ahead. What might they be?

    1. Puddles reflecting the nearby street lights
    2. Reflectors in a construction zone
    3. An animal's eyes reflecting your lights
    4. Broken glass left from a crash

  29. Which statement about anti-lock brakes (ABS) is true?

    1. It always stops you sooner
    2. It lets you drive faster safely
    3. On gravel, stopping may take longer
    4. It works only on dry, clean pavement

  30. A large elk steps into your path and you can't stop in time. What does the guide advise just before impact?

    1. Press the brake even harder
    2. Let up on the brake pedal
    3. Swerve sharply to the left
    4. Speed up through the impact

  31. A car is coming straight at you in your lane. Which way should you steer to avoid a head-on crash?

    1. Toward the centre
    2. To the right
    3. To the left
    4. Straight, braking

  32. At a crash scene, the other driver wants to argue about who caused it. What does the guide suggest?

    1. Insist that they admit it was them
    2. Admit fault to calm things down
    3. Avoid discussing who is at fault
    4. Agree on fault before either leaves

  33. Your hood suddenly flies up and blocks your view. What should you do?

    1. Stop in your lane immediately
    2. Brake as hard as you possibly can right away
    3. Reach out and push the hood down
    4. Look under the hood or out the side window

  34. If you double your speed, what happens to the force of impact in a crash?

    1. It rises by half
    2. It doubles
    3. It quadruples
    4. It triples

  35. At what times are animals most likely to be on the move and hardest to see?

    1. Around midday
    2. At dusk and dawn
    3. Around midnight
    4. In late afternoon

  36. You corrected a skid, but now the rear of the car swings to the left. What most likely caused this?

    1. Overcorrecting the first skid
    2. Taking your foot off the gas
    3. Having ABS on the vehicle
    4. Not braking hard enough

  37. You're about to pass a horse and rider on a rural road. What should you avoid?

    1. Honking your horn
    2. Slowing down early
    3. Passing at a low speed
    4. Leaving lots of space

  38. Right after a tire blowout, what should you do?

    1. Brake hard right away to stop fast
    2. Ease off the gas and slow down gradually
    3. Shift to neutral and switch off the engine
    4. Accelerate firmly to keep control

Emergency driving strategies: key rules to remember

Our summary of what the official handbook says on this topic, in our own words. Read it before or after the practice questions above, then check the original chapter. Read the official chapter ↗

Preparing for emergencies

  • Rehearse: scan ahead for potential hazards, then ask yourself what you would do (brake, swerve, pull over).
  • Best preparation: stay alert and use see-think-do so you act before an emergency develops; carry emergency equipment.
  • The two main emergency strategies are emergency braking and skid control; practise them only in a safe place supervised by an expert driver.
  • Even skilled drivers can't handle every emergency; the best preparation is to avoid it.

Emergency braking / ABS

  • Key: stop as quickly as possible without locking the brakes. Locked wheels stop turning, you lose steering and may skid.
  • ABS lets you brake and steer at the same time (ordinary brakes can't). With ABS apply continuous, firm, hard pressure until stopped; sensors release the brakes automatically to prevent lock-up.
  • ABS doesn't let you drive faster and doesn't always stop you sooner; on gravel braking distance may be longer; it helps prevent lock-up on wet/slippery surfaces.
  • With ABS: press hard and hold to a full stop, don't pump, look and steer where you want to go.
  • Without ABS: press hard but not enough to lock; if you start to skid, quickly release and press hard again; look and steer. Occasionally you may choose to lock the brakes when stopping matters more than steering.
  • Practise ABS: accelerate to 30 km/h in a safe place, brake hard, steer around an imaginary object. Pumping turns the system off. Brake noise or shudder is normal.

Skid control

  • Skids happen when tires lose grip: slippery surfaces, or changing speed/direction too suddenly. Poor driving skills are the main cause. Slow down in slippery conditions.
  • Rear skids right: ease off the accelerator, look and steer smoothly where you want to go (right). Don't brake.
  • Rear then skids left (usually from overcorrecting): stay off the accelerator, steer smoothly left. Repeat until control is regained, then continue with caution.
  • Skids are caused by slamming on the brakes, slamming brakes while steering, cornering too fast, sudden acceleration.

Vehicle breakdowns / tire blowout

  • Best prevention: well-maintained vehicle, regular periodic and pre-trip checks.
  • Front blowout: vehicle pulls toward the deflated tire, especially at high speed. Rear blowout: vehicle may start to skid.
  • Blowout: firm grip, don't brake suddenly, ease off the accelerator and slow gradually, brake gently once slowed, steer where you want to go, signal/hazard lights, pull off when safe.
  • Total brake failure is rare.

Brake failure / engine failure / fire

  • Brake failure: don't panic; look for an escape route or something to slow you (side road, open field); pump brakes hard and fast; gear down to the lowest gear; apply the parking brake gently and gradually while holding the release so you can let go if you skid; use hazard lights or horn.
  • Engine failure: signal and steer to the road edge; on a busy freeway get to an exit/service area or as far off as possible; avoid stopping on a bridge or in a tunnel; hazard lights; flares or warning triangle if dark or low visibility; stay with the vehicle with an S.O.S. notice in the windshield; never get into a stranger's vehicle — ask them to phone for you; no roadside repairs on crowded fast freeways.
  • Power steering still works after the engine stops but needs more effort; don't turn the ignition off or the steering will lock.
  • Vehicle fire: stop, get everyone out, don't open the hood (fire may spread), move well away.

Headlight failure / hood flying up / gas pedal sticking

  • Driving at night without headlights is dangerous and illegal; get off the road quickly.
  • Headlights fail: flick the switch on and off quickly; hazard lights if they stay off; slow, pull off, get help.
  • Hood flies up: look through the gap below the hood or out the open side window; foot off accelerator; hazard lights; pump brakes to warn drivers behind; steer to the side. Prevention: latch the hood properly.
  • Gas pedal sticks because of ice/snow build-up, a jammed floor mat, or a malfunction. At very low speed you may lift it with your toe. Never reach down with your hand.

Stuck gas pedal / animals

  • Stuck pedal: brake, find an escape path and keep braking, shift to neutral (may damage the engine but better than crashing; steering and braking get harder if the engine stops), once stopped turn the engine off, don't restart — call for help.
  • Animals: scan roadsides, watch for animal crossing signs in farming/wooded areas and slow down, be extra careful at dusk and dawn, unusual spots of light at night may be eyes reflecting your headlights, wild animals often travel in herds.
  • Horses and riders: slow down, give lots of space, don't honk.

Animal in your path

  • Check the rear-view mirror; assess risks (stop, steer around, or hit the animal rather than risk a worse crash).
  • Slow down but don't slam on the brakes; leave a wide margin — a frightened animal can run any direction.
  • Large animal, can't stop: brake firmly, steer to hit it at an angle, let up on the brake just before impact so the front rises and the animal is less likely to come through the windshield.

Collision avoidance

  • Slow down as much as possible; try not to lock the brakes.
  • Steer for something soft (bushes, a high snowbank); avoid hard objects (parked cars, trees).
  • Avoid a head-on collision at all costs: steer to the right, not the left (the oncoming driver may also steer right). Use the horn.
  • Hitting a solid object at 30 km/h is like falling from a one-storey building; at 60 km/h, like falling from the roof of a four-storey building. Doubling speed quadruples the force of impact.

At the scene of a crash

  • Helping: park away from the crash so you don't block traffic or emergency vehicles; warn other drivers (e.g. warning triangles); call emergency services if needed; stay with injured people; no smoking or matches (possible fuel leak).
  • Passing a crash scene: don't slow more than necessary; stay focused.
  • If you are in a crash, or others crash because of something you did, you must remain at the scene and give all reasonable assistance (call emergency services if you can and if needed).

Information exchange and suggestions

  • Must exchange with the other driver, anyone injured and any property owner: your name and address, the registered owner's name and address, the licence plate number, insurance information. Also give it to police or a witness if asked.
  • Suggestions: move vehicles off the road if safe, avoid discussing fault, record witnesses' names and addresses, exchange driver's licence numbers, sketch or photograph the scene (time, location, weather), notify your insurer right away.
  • ICBC's "What to do after a crash" card is available from Autoplan brokers.

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