Ontario handbook · chapter 4 · 9 min read

Dealing with emergencies

• How to identify and manage situations where your visibility may be reduced
• How weather conditions such as rain, flooded roads, snow and ice may affect your vehicle and your ability to control it
• What to do if your vehicle skids or if you encounter heavy snow, whiteouts or black ice
• How to recognize and share the road with snow removal vehicles

Dealing with emergencies

If you drive often or travel alone, you need to be ready to deal with emergencies. Here are some suggestions for coping with some common road emergencies.

If your brakes fail

Try pumping the brake pedal to temporarily restore hydraulic brake pressure. If this does not work, apply the parking brake gently but firmly while holding the release button. It is a good idea for new drivers to practice a parking-brake emergency stop under controlled conditions with a qualified driving instructor. Total brake failure is very rare on modern vehicles. If your brakes do fail and you manage to stop, do not drive away. Call for help.

If your gas pedal sticks