If your vehicle stalls on a highway, what steps should you take?

• A. Move to the shoulder or a safe area, turn on hazard lights, and call for assistance.
• B. Continue driving slowly until you reach an exit.
• C. Turn around and back up to the nearest ramp.
• D. Stop in the lane and attempt to restart immediately.

Answer: (A)

When a vehicle stalls on a highway, your top priority is safety: get out of the active traffic lane, warn other drivers, and call for help. Moving to the shoulder or a safe area keeps you out of the path of moving cars, reducing the risk of a collision. Turning on hazard lights immediately alerts approaching drivers that something is wrong and that you are stationary. Calling for assistance ensures you get professional help, whether it’s a tow, roadside service, or emergency responders if you’re in immediate danger.

If you can’t reach a safe area, staying inside with a seatbelt on and calling for help is better than sitting in the travel lane. Do not try to continue driving slowly to the next exit, back up into a ramp, or stop in the lane to restart. Those actions keep you in the flow of traffic or create a new obstacle for other motorists, increasing the chance of a crash.