Hawaii Drivers Permit Practice Test

What should you do if your power steering suddenly fails while driving?

1. Honk the horn and turn off the ignition

2. Turn on your hazard warning lights and brace yourself

3. Work hard to steer, reduce speed, drive to a safe area and stop

4. Slam on your brakes

The correct answer is: Work hard to steer, reduce speed, drive to a safe area and stop

If your power steering suddenly fails while driving, the best course of action is to work hard to steer, reduce your speed, drive to a safe area, and stop. This approach is essential because losing power steering makes the steering wheel much harder to turn, requiring more effort to maneuver the vehicle. By reducing speed, you not only lightens the workload on the steering mechanism but also enhances your control over the vehicle. It’s crucial to stay calm, maintain a firm grip on the steering wheel, and steadily navigate your vehicle to a safe location where you can stop. This strategy helps prevent panic and allows you to manage the vehicle in a controlled manner until you can bring it to a halt safely. Turning on your hazard warning lights can alert other drivers to your situation, and bracing yourself can be beneficial, but without actively steering and managing your speed, those actions alone won't effectively address the immediate issue of handling the vehicle safely. Honking the horn and turning off the ignition could create more confusion or danger on the road, while slamming on your brakes could lead to loss of control. Therefore, the primary focus should be on steering and controlling the vehicle to ensure safety.