In many emergencies you can turn to miss an obstacle faster than you can stop, so steering around it may be the safest choice. Stopping or heading for the shoulder is right in some situations, but neither is always best.
If a hydraulic brake pedal goes to the floor, pumping it a few times may restore enough pressure to stop, and you should downshift to help slow down with either a manual or an automatic transmission. The parking brake is independent of the hydraulic service brakes, so it remains available to help slow the vehicle.
Because the hill hides what is behind you, a vehicle could be passing in the left lane without your knowing it, while it is unlikely that anyone is driving on a clear shoulder. Braking alone will not prevent the crash, since there is not enough room to stop.
Holding one side of the vehicle on the pavement helps you stay in control and avoids a sudden drop onto soft ground that could roll it over. Avoid braking until you have slowed to about 20 mph, then brake gently, since hard braking on a loose surface can start a skid.
A move to the right is usually best, because if the other driver realizes the mistake, the natural reaction is to swerve back into their own lane, which is to your left. Hard braking may not prevent the collision, and going left risks meeting that driver head-on.
Shifting up lets the vehicle pick up speed and makes it even harder to stop, so it is the move to avoid. The helpful steps are to pump the pedal quickly to rebuild pressure, downshift, and use the parking brake with care.
Tip When a question asks what to avoid, remember that moving to a higher gear lets the vehicle gain speed and makes stopping harder.
After a quick swerve the vehicle tends to keep turning, so once you are past the hazard you must turn the wheel back the other way to straighten out. Plan for this second move as part of the same maneuver so you can make it in time.
The sharper the turn, the higher the risk of skidding or rolling over, so steer only as much as needed to clear the hazard and be prepared to countersteer. Grip the wheel firmly with both hands, and avoid braking while turning, because braking may lock the wheels and cause a skid.
In most emergencies you can turn away from a hazard in less time and distance than it takes to bring a heavy truck to a stop. A stop is not automatically the safest choice, and going off the road often carries less risk than colliding with another vehicle.
The shoulder may be soft, loose, or uneven, and hard braking on it can put the vehicle into a skid or even roll it over. Ease off the accelerator until you are down to about 20 mph, and only then apply the brakes lightly.
Hard braking on a soft or loose shoulder can throw the vehicle into a skid or even roll it over, so wait until you have slowed to roughly 20 mph and then brake gently. If possible, leave the wheels on one side of the vehicle on the pavement to help you keep control.
Hitting the brakes right after a tire failure can cost you control, so grip the steering wheel firmly and let the vehicle slow by itself. When it is moving much more slowly, brake gently, ease off the roadway and stop.
Stopping in a safe spot, such as the shoulder, lets you deal with the problem and protect yourself and others, for example by setting out warning triangles as shown. Rushing away or driving off to find the police can make the situation worse.
Braking while you turn the wheel makes it easy to lock the wheels and lose control in a skid. Swerve without braking, and if you need to slow down, brake before or after the turn instead of during it.
Every question in this set has its own page with the correct answer and an explanation.
