Emergencies and Special Situations — Michigan Driver License Practice Test

This chapter covers how to handle aggressive driving, high-risk situations like intersections and freeway driving, bad weather (rain, fog, ice, snow), and true emergencies — crashes, disabled vehicles, being pulled over, deer collisions, and carjacking attempts. It also explains braking technique differences between vehicles with and without anti-lock brakes, and the timing rules for headlight use.

The most-tested material includes the 3-4 second following-distance rule (extend to 6+ seconds in poor conditions), headlight requirements (on whenever visibility drops below 500 feet, and required from a half-hour after sunset to a half-hour before sunrise), and the legal duty to stop after any crash and notify police when there are injuries or over $1,000 in damage. The exam also covers what to do if an oncoming vehicle drifts into your lane, and the correct response if a deer crash is unavoidable (brake firmly, stay in your lane — never swerve for the deer).

A common mistake is assuming all vehicles brake the same way in a skid: with anti-lock brakes you apply firm, steady pressure and keep it; without anti-lock brakes you use "threshold" braking — pressing just short of locking the wheels, releasing if they lock, then reapplying. Another common mistake is leaving your vehicle during a roadside emergency or traffic stop instead of staying inside with your seat belt on, which the manual identifies as the safest choice in most situations.