Not specific to the 172, but a sizeable part of the training when getting your license is about what do when the engine stops (gliding, finding a suitable field

Not specific to the 172, but a sizeable part of the training when getting your license is about what do when the engine stops (gliding, finding a suitable field/road/etc.) - and if you fly long enough there's a fairly good chance you'll have to put what you learned into practise.