When the engine stalls on the road, what sequence should you follow?

• A. Shift to neutral, turn on hazards, try to start the car, then leave the road.
• B. Turn off the engine and wait.
• C. Accelerate to the next exit.
• D. Continue driving to a safe area.

Answer: (A)

When a vehicle stalls on the road, the priority is to regain control and get safely out of traffic while warning other drivers. Shifting to neutral helps you disconnect the engine from the wheels, so you can coast to a safer spot without the engine fighting you and without losing control. Turning on the hazards makes your situation visible to others, reducing the chance of a collision as you deal with the stall. Attempting to restart gives you a chance to regain propulsion without immediately abandoning the vehicle. If restart isn’t possible, you can then move the car off the roadway as soon as it’s safe to do so, using signals and the shoulder or a safe area.

Turning off the engine right away isn’t ideal because you lose power assist for steering and braking, making maneuvering harder. Accelerating toward an exit or continuing to drive without addressing the stall keeps you in a dangerous situation where you can’t control speed or direction.