Arizona driving lesson · Weather, Night Driving & Crash Avoidance
Avoiding crashes, skids, debris & animals
A 3-minute lesson from the Arizona course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Sometimes the danger comes from outside your car: a speeding driver behind you, a car in your lane, debris or an animal. Think ahead about what you'd do, because you may have only a fraction of a second to decide.
A vehicle is speeding toward you from behind while you're stopped:
If possible, pull forward to give it more room to stop
If the crash can't be avoided, brace between the wheel and seat back
Release your brake an instant before impact to lessen it
Debris is common in Arizona. A common crash is swerving to avoid it, losing control and leaving the road — sometimes driving over the debris would have been far less severe.
On a two-lane street, oncoming cars are to your left and a child is riding a bike on your right. The child is more likely to move suddenly, so give the most room there by moving closer to the center line.
Check your understanding
Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
When recovering from a skid, what should you do with the steering wheel?
Turn it as far as it will go and hold it there
Steer where you want to go
Turn it opposite the direction of the skid
Hold it perfectly straight and do nothing
Answer: Steer where you want to go
Turn the wheel quickly in the direction of the skid (the direction you want the vehicle to follow) to recover.