Arizona · Handbook chapter 10 · 5 min read

Chapter 10: Emergencies, crashes and traffic stops

Handling blowouts, fires, overheating, power steering, headlight and brake failure, avoiding rear-end and head-on crashes, skids, debris and animals, crash duties and quick clearance, leaving-the-scene penalties and what to do at a traffic stop.

Why this chapter matters

Emergencies give you no time to think, so the right response must already be in your head. Arizona also has firm rules about what you must do after a crash and how to handle a traffic stop safely.

Vehicle emergencies

• Tire blowout: grip the wheel, keep straight, ease off the gas and do not brake. Let the car slow almost to a stop, signal, pull off and then brake. Check tire pressure often to prevent blowouts.
• Fire: pull off, shut off the ignition and get everyone away; call 911. An ABC dry chemical extinguisher is best. Never use water on burning gasoline; a heavy blanket, coat or sand can smother flames.
• Overheating: pull over, turn off the engine and raise the hood, but never open a hot radiator cap. Add water only after the engine cools.
• Power steering failure: grip the wheel firmly with both hands, finish the turn, move right and stop, pressing the brake extra hard if it is power-assisted.
• Headlight failure: try the dimmer switch and flick the headlight switch; if that fails, use parking lights, flashers or turn signals and pull off.
• Brake failure: do not pump anti-lock brakes. Without ABS, pump rapidly; if that fails, apply the parking brake slowly while holding the release, shift to a lower gear and find a safe place to stop.

Avoiding a crash

• Car closing fast behind you at a light: pull forward if you can. If a hit cannot be avoided, brace between the wheel and seat back and release the brake an instant before impact.
• Head-on threat: slow down, flash your lights and sound the horn, and head for the shoulder. If you cannot avoid the crash, steer to reduce the impact.
• Compromise: when facing two risks at once, give the most room to the greater or more likely danger, such as easing toward the center line to pass a child on a bike.
• Skids: stay off the brake and steer in the direction you want to go, then steer back as the car straightens.
• Debris: swerving can cause a loss of control; sometimes driving over the debris is the less severe choice. Think ahead.
• Animals: slow down and avoid a direct hit without losing control. If the animal is not yet on the road, do not honk. Report animals that are a hazard by calling 911.

Always wear your safety belt: it is the best protection in any crash.

After a crash

• Stay at the scene, help anyone injured and exchange your license number, name and address, insurance company and policy number, witness details and plate numbers. Call police at once if anyone is hurt.
• If you come upon a crash, pull off with hazard flashers on, turn off the ignitions of the crashed vehicles, call 911, stay out of traffic lanes and ask others to warn approaching drivers.

Quick clearance

After a minor crash with no injuries, state law requires you to move a vehicle that can be driven safely out of the travel lanes, to the shoulder, median or off the highway. Moving it does not make you at fault. Check that everyone is OK, move, then call 911. Never leave the scene.

Leaving the scene

Traffic stops

• Signal and pull over as soon as it is safe, then turn off the engine and audio.
• Stay in the vehicle unless told to get out, turn on the interior light at night and keep your hands visible, ideally on the wheel.
• Tell the officer if you have a weapon in the vehicle, and wait for instructions before reaching for documents.
• The officer will usually explain the stop and ask for your license, insurance and registration. You may ask to see credentials if the officer is not in uniform.
• Signing a ticket is not an admission of guilt, but refusing to sign may lead to arrest. Contest a ticket in court, not at the roadside.

Be prepared

Carry an emergency kit with drinking water, a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, a flashlight, blankets, flares, jumper cables, a spare tire and jack, and basic tools.