You're driving a vehicle equipped with a dual air brake system. The low air pressure warning signal comes on, but one system still has normal pressure. What should you do?
- Continue your trip as usual.
- Stop your vehicle as soon as possible. ✓
- Slow down and test the brakes.
- Slow down and drive to the nearest garage.
Answer: B. Stop your vehicle as soon as possible.
Stop your vehicle as soon as possible.
Why this is the answer
The handbook's rule is simple: when the low air-pressure warning comes on, stop right away in the safest place you can find and fix the air loss before you continue. It does not make an exception for a dual system where one part still shows normal pressure. The warning tells you brake air pressure is not where it should be, so the safe response is to bring the vehicle to a stop rather than keep driving or head for a garage.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. Continue your trip as usual. — Continuing as usual ignores the warning; the handbook requires you to stop and correct the air loss before proceeding.
- C. Slow down and test the brakes. — Slowing to test the brakes is not what the handbook calls for; it says to stop in the safest available place and correct the pressure loss.
- D. Slow down and drive to the nearest garage. — Driving on to a garage still keeps you moving with a low-air warning, while the handbook says to stop immediately and fix the loss before proceeding.
Remember it
Treat the low-air warning like a red light for the air system: deal with it before you move again.
Official handbook: Official MTO Truck Handbook, Use of brakes