Emergency Procedures and Accident Response
What you must know
Emergency response follows a sequence: protect, notify, assist. Protect the scene by stopping safely, setting parking brakes, turning on hazard lights, and placing warning devices. Notify by calling emergency services with location, injuries, and hazards. Assist within your training, and never move an injured person unless there is immediate danger such as fire.
Know the common emergencies and their responses. A tire blowout requires holding the wheel firmly, easing off the accelerator, and steering straight before braking gently. A brake failure requires downshifting, using engine braking, and looking for an escape route or runaway truck ramp. A fire requires stopping, shutting off the engine, evacuating passengers upwind, and calling for help. A vehicle in water requires escaping through a window or door before the vehicle fills.
Traps to expect
Questions test whether you know not to slam the brakes during a blowout and not to move an injured person casually. Accident-scene questions reward securing the scene first, then calling for help, then assisting. Questions about hazardous cargo spills reward keeping people away and calling the proper authority rather than attempting cleanup. Post-accident questions reward exchanging information and reporting as required by law.
Rule of thumb: protect the scene before you help, and never move an injured person unless staying put is more dangerous.