7.3 Vehicle Emergencies, Mechanical Failures & Crash Reporting Procedures

7.3 Vehicle Emergencies, Mechanical Failures & Crash Reporting Procedures

Quick Answer: When confronted with a sudden mechanical emergency, calm, deliberate actions prevent collisions. In a tire blowout, grip the steering wheel firmly, ease off the accelerator, do NOT brake immediately, and steer straight until the car slows down before guiding it onto the shoulder. For complete brake failure, pump the brake pedal rapidly, downshift to a lower gear, and gradually apply the parking brake while holding the release button. If your gas pedal sticks, hook your toe under it or immediately shift into NEUTRAL and apply brakes. If your vehicle begins hydroplaning (riding on a thin film of water at 35–55+ mph), ease off the gas and steer straight without braking. If involved in a motor vehicle crash in Minnesota (Minn. Stat. § 169.09), you must stop immediately, render reasonable aid, exchange information, call 911 if there is injury, death, or apparent property damage of $1,000 or more, and file a written DPS Crash Report within 10 days.

Mechanical breakdowns and sudden roadway emergencies test a driver's reflexes and knowledge. Understanding standard emergency operating procedures and fulfilling statutory crash responsibilities are mandatory for all licensed Minnesota motorists.

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1. Mechanical Emergencies & Immediate Handling Procedures

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                  MECHANICAL EMERGENCIES — ACTION PROTOCOLS                  |
|                                                                             |
|   EMERGENCY             MANDATORY DRIVER ACTION                             |
|   -----------------------------------------------------------------------   |
|   TIRE BLOWOUT ........ Firm 2-handed grip; ease off gas; NO immediate      |
|                         braking; steer straight; brake gently on shoulder.  |
|                                                                             |
|   BRAKE FAILURE ....... Pump brake pedal rapidly; downshift to lower gear;  |
|                         apply parking brake slowly holding release latch.   |
|                                                                             |
|   STUCK ACCELERATOR ... Shift transmission to NEUTRAL; apply firm brakes;   |
|                         steer to shoulder; turn OFF engine after stopping.  |
|                                                                             |
|   HOOD FLIES OPEN ..... Look through space beneath hood or out side window; |
|                         turn on hazards; slow down and pull onto shoulder.  |
|                                                                             |
|   HEADLIGHT FAILURE ... Toggle dimmer switch; turn on hazard lights/parking |
|                         lights; guide car safely off the roadway.           |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+

Tire Blowout (Flat Tire at Speed)

A sudden tire blowout produces a loud thumping noise or bang, followed by a heavy drag pulling the vehicle strongly toward the side of the deflated tire.

• Action:
  1. Maintain a firm, two-handed grip on the steering wheel to keep the vehicle traveling straight.
  2. Do NOT step on the brake pedal. Braking immediately on a blown tire causes the vehicle to violently swerve, spin out, or roll over.
  3. Gently ease your foot off the accelerator.
  4. Allow engine braking and rolling resistance to decelerate the vehicle below 30 mph.
  5. Signal, guide the vehicle smoothly onto the right shoulder, and apply gentle brakes to come to a stop.

Total Brake Failure

If depressing the brake pedal causes it to sink completely to the floorboard without slowing the vehicle:

• Action:
  1. Rapidly pump the brake pedal three to four times. This can rebuild residual hydraulic fluid pressure in dual-circuit brake systems.
  2. If pumping fails, downshift to a lower gear (e.g., from Drive to 2 or 1, or lower manual gear) to utilize engine compression braking.
  3. Gradually apply the parking/emergency brake, holding the mechanical release button or latch open so you can modulate tension and prevent the rear wheels from locking.
  4. As a last resort, steer onto an upward slope, soft roadside ditch, or rub against a snowbank or guardrail at a shallow angle to bleed off speed.

Stuck Gas Pedal (Accelerator)

If the throttle linkage sticks or the accelerator gets jammed by a floor mat:

• Action:
  1. Hook your toe under the accelerator pedal to see if you can pull it up.
  2. If the pedal remains stuck, immediately shift the transmission into NEUTRAL ($N$). Shifting to neutral disengages engine power from the drive wheels, allowing you to brake safely even if the engine revs loudly.
  3. Apply firm, steady pressure to the brake pedal.
  4. Steer safely onto the roadside shoulder.
  5. Once safely stopped, turn off the engine ignition. (Warning: Do NOT turn the key to the "LOCK" position while rolling, as this locks the steering column and disables steering control.)

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2. Hydroplaning & Roadway Loss of Traction

Hydroplaning occurs during wet weather when water on the roadway accumulates in front of the vehicle's tires faster than the tire tread grooves can channel it away. As a result, water pressure lifts the tire completely off the asphalt, causing the vehicle to skim on a thin sheet of water with zero steering or braking control.

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                        HYDROPLANING MECHANICS & SPEEDS                      |
|                                                                             |
|   • SPEEDS 0 - 35 MPH ..... Tire treads effectively channel standing water. |
|                             Full rubber-to-asphalt contact maintained.      |
|                                                                             |
|   • SPEEDS 35 - 55 MPH .... Partial hydroplaning begins. Water builds under |
|                             tread; braking distance significantly extended. |
|                                                                             |
|   • SPEEDS 55+ MPH ........ Severe / Full hydroplaning risk. Tires ride on  |
|                             water cushion; complete loss of steering control|
|                                                                             |
|   RECOVERY: Ease off gas pedal; hold wheel straight; DO NOT BRAKE.          |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+

Factors That Cause Hydroplaning

• Vehicle Speed: Hydroplaning risk escalates dramatically at speeds exceeding 35 mph and becomes severe at 55 mph or higher.
• Tire Condition: Worn tire treads (under $2/32$ inch depth) cannot displace water, triggering hydroplaning even at moderate city speeds.
• Tire Inflation: Underinflated tires sag in the middle, trapping water beneath the tread center.
• Water Depth: Standing puddles and heavy downpours create deep water films.

Prevention & Recovery

• Prevention: Slow down during rainstorms, replace bald tires, maintain proper tire PSI, and never use cruise control on wet or icy roads (cruise control will attempt to maintain speed by accelerating when tires slip, inducing a violent skid).
• Recovery: If your vehicle hydroplanes, take your foot off the gas pedal, hold the steering wheel straight, and do not apply the brakes until the tires make physical contact with the pavement again.

Running Wheels Off the Pavement Edge (Shoulder Drop-Off)

If your right tires drift off the paved highway onto a soft or low dirt/gravel shoulder:

• Do NOT yank the steering wheel sharply back onto the pavement. Jerking the wheel causes the front tire to catch the paved edge and slingshot the vehicle across the center line into oncoming traffic.
• Action: Hold the steering wheel firmly straight, ease off the gas pedal to slow down, straddle the edge of the pavement, check for traffic, and once slowed to a safe speed (<25 mph), turn the steering wheel a quarter-turn to ease smoothly back onto the roadway.

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3. Life-Threatening Crises: Submersion, Fires & Carbon Monoxide

Vehicle Submerged in Water

If a vehicle plunges into a lake, river, or deep retention pond, it will float on the surface for 30 to 60 seconds before sinking.

• Action:
  1. Unbuckle seatbelts immediately and assist small children with their restraints.
  2. Open or roll down a side window immediately before water reaches the window level. While electrical circuits remain active, power windows will function for a short time.
  3. If windows cannot be rolled down, use an emergency glass-breaking tool to shatter a side window (never attempt to break the laminated front windshield).
  4. Escape promptly through the open window. Do not wait for water pressure to equalize to open the vehicle doors, as the car will sink rapidly to the bottom.

Vehicle Fire

• If you smell burning electrical wiring or see smoke or flames billowing from the hood:
  1. Signal and immediately pull off the roadway onto the shoulder, clear of brush or trees.
  2. Turn off the ignition switch immediately to shut off electrical power and the fuel pump.
  3. Evacuate all passengers and move at least 100 feet away upwind from the vehicle.
  4. Call 911 immediately.
  5. NEVER open the vehicle hood. Opening the hood introduces oxygen, transforming a smoldering engine fire into an explosive fireball.

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4. Minnesota Crash Scene Duties & Reporting Laws (Minn. Stat. § 169.09)

Under Minnesota Statutes § 169.09, any motorist involved in a motor vehicle accident on public or private property has specific, mandatory legal obligations.

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                 MINNESOTA CRASH SCENE STATUTORY OBLIGATIONS                 |
|                                                                             |
|   1. STOP IMMEDIATELY:                                                      |
|      Stop your vehicle at the scene or as close as safely possible. Leaving |
|      the scene of an accident involving injury/death is a serious felony.   |
|                                                                             |
|   2. RENDER REASONABLE ASSISTANCE:                                          |
|      Check for injuries; call 911 for medical help; provide basic first aid  |
|      if trained; do NOT move injured victims unless there is fire/hazard.   |
|                                                                             |
|   3. EXCHANGE INFORMATION:                                                  |
|      Provide your full name, address, date of birth, driver's license       |
|      number, vehicle registration plate, and auto insurance policy details. |
|                                                                             |
|   4. NOTIFY LAW ENFORCEMENT (911):                                          |
|      MANDATORY immediate notification if the crash results in:              |
|      • Any bodily INJURY or DEATH                                           |
|      • Total apparent PROPERTY DAMAGE of $1,000 OR MORE                     |
|                                                                             |
|   5. FILE WRITTEN DPS CRASH REPORT:                                         |
|      Must file a written Minnesota Motor Vehicle Crash Report with the DPS  |
|      within 10 DAYS if injury, death, or total damage >= $1,000.            |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+

Statutory Thresholds Summary

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5. Additional Mechanical Failures the Manual Names

Steering Failure

If the front wheels do not respond when you turn the steering wheel:

• Ease up on the accelerator. Do not brake unless it is necessary to avoid a crash.
• The vehicle may balance on its own and travel in a straight path as you reduce speed.
• If you must brake, do so gently. Braking suddenly or trying to shift gears changes speed abruptly and can throw the vehicle off balance and out of control.

Headlight Failure

If your headlights suddenly go out, try your parking lights, hazard warning lights or turn signals — one of them may still work and give you enough light to guide you off the road.

• On a busy or lighted road, ambient light will probably be enough to steer by
• If all lights fail on a dark, deserted road, slow down and keep the vehicle on the pavement until you can move safely onto the shoulder

Windshield Wiper Failure or a Hood That Flies Open

Both failures attack the same thing: forward vision. Slow down immediately, use whatever sightline remains — including looking through the side window or the gap beneath a raised hood — and get off the roadway at the first safe opportunity.

Overheating

Stop-and-go traffic on a hot day, steep inclines, and towing a trailer all make an engine run hotter than normal. When the temperature gauge or light shows the engine is hot:

1. Turn off unnecessary equipment, especially the air conditioning
2. If it is still too high, turn on the heater — this draws hot air away from the engine
3. If those fail, or the temperature suddenly increases or steam rises from the engine, pull over, stop, and turn off the ignition immediately

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6. Roadway Hazards and Other Drivers

Flooded Roadways

Do not drive through flooded areas. If you see a flooded roadway ahead, turn around and find another route. The numbers explain why:

Even where water looks shallow, do not attempt to cross — water can hide dips or a roadway whose surface has been washed away. Be especially cautious at night, when visibility is limited. If there is no other route, proceed to higher ground and wait for the water to subside.

Watch Out for Deer

• Deer are most active from dusk to dawn — be especially alert then
• Scan the sides of the road at night for your headlights reflecting in deer eyes; if you see that reflection, slow down
• Blow the horn and be ready to stop
• Always watch for more than one deer — they travel in groups
• Deer crossings typically happen in rural settings, but deer wander into towns and even cities, and may cross anywhere, anytime

A Vehicle Approaching in Your Lane

Move to the right. Do not use the left lane to avoid the vehicle — the other driver may return to the correct lane and end up directly in your path.

If the vehicle keeps coming, steer off the road to the right if necessary to avoid a crash. Sounding your horn and flashing your headlights may help a sleepy or distracted driver become alert.

A Vehicle Trying to Pass You

When another driver passing you on a two-lane road misjudges oncoming traffic, you must act to prevent a crash:

• If the passing vehicle is nearly in position to move back into the right lane, slow down and let them complete the pass as quickly as possible
• If the passing vehicle must drop back, speed up so there is adequate room for it to move in behind you
• If a crash seems likely and the right shoulder is wide enough, quickly move right and let the passing vehicle take your lane

Driving on Narrow Roads and Hills

• On narrow-road curves, or where brush and trees block your view, you may use your horn to warn other drivers or pedestrians that you are on the road
• Do not coast down steep hills with the transmission in neutral
• On steep hills, check your speedometer frequently — vehicle speed will increase even with your foot off the accelerator