Practice question

When starting your vehicle from a stop and the driver wheels start to spin, you should:

  1. Increase engine power
  2. Press down on the brake
  3. Take your foot off the accelerator
  4. Shift into neutral

Answer: C — Take your foot off the accelerator

Taking your foot off the accelerator is the appropriate response when your vehicle's driver wheels start to spin while starting from a stop. This action reduces power to the wheels, which helps regain traction. Spinning wheels can lead to loss of control, especially on slippery surfaces, so easing off the accelerator allows the tires to reconnect with the road. If you were to increase engine power, it would exacerbate the problem by causing more wheel spin. Pressing down on the brake can lead to a complete loss of momentum and potentially stall the engine. Shifting into neutral may briefly stop the wheels from spinning but does not effectively address the underlying issue of losing traction, making it a less effective option for regaining control.

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