Roadwise States Indiana Driving lessons Avoiding collisions & off-road emergencies Indiana driving lesson · Accidents & Emergencies
Avoiding collisions & off-road emergencies A 3-minute lesson from the Indiana course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Read time 3 minutes
Course unit Accidents & Emergencies
Checkpoint questions 6
Source pages 63, 64 Even careful drivers face emergencies. When a crash looks likely, you have three basic choices, and some collisions are far less harmful than others.
If it looks like you'll hit something, you can: Stop quickly Turn quickly: if you can't stop in time, turn away from the potential collision Speed up: accelerating may sometimes be the best or only way to avoid a collision Handbook p. 63 ↗ If a collision looks possible: Turn away from oncoming traffic, even if it means leaving the road Drive, rather than skid, off the road, so you keep more control Hit something that will give way, like brush or shrubs, rather than something hard Hit something moving your direction rather than something that isn't moving But hitting something that isn't moving is safer than hitting something head-on A sideswipe may help you slow down Handbook p. 63 ↗ Know the rule
If your wheels drift onto the shoulder, don't turn back onto the pavement right away, which could throw the vehicle off balance. Drive along the shoulder, ease off the gas, and after slowing, turn back gradually.
Handbook p. 64 ↗ Know the rule
A vehicle that plunges into water usually floats for several minutes before sinking, which lets occupants escape through an open window while it's still on the surface.
Handbook p. 64 ↗ Know the rule
Don't try to open a door. The weight of the water makes it nearly impossible, and an open door floods the passenger compartment.
Handbook p. 64 ↗ If your vehicle plunges into water: Remove your seat belt Open a window; power windows work unless the impact damaged the electrical system Free children from rear belts and restraints (older kids help younger ones); move everyone to the front calmly Exit and move to the roof; call 911 and locate the nearest dry land Swim for shore only as a last resort, if help hasn't arrived before the vehicle sinks Never re-enter the vehicle to gather possessions Handbook p. 64 ↗ Put it into practice
An oncoming car drifts into your lane on a two-lane road and you can't stop in time. Turn away from it, even if that means leaving the road. Drive off rather than skid, and aim for bushes instead of a tree.
A useful reminder In water: belt off, window open, kids out, onto the roof. Leave the doors shut.
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.
If a collision seems unavoidable, which option is generally safer? Hitting something that will give way, like brush Hitting an oncoming vehicle head-on Hitting a parked car rather than a bush Skidding off the road instead of driving off Answer: Hitting something that will give way, like brush
Choose to hit something that will give way, such as brush or shrubs, rather than something hard.
Handbook p. 63 ↗ If your wheels drift onto the shoulder, what should you do? Jerk the wheel back onto the pavement immediately Ease off the gas, steer back onto the road gradually Slam on the brakes right away Accelerate hard to regain the lane quickly Answer: Ease off the gas, steer back onto the road gradually
Do not try to turn back onto the pavement right away; ease up on the gas pedal and turn back gradually.
Handbook p. 63 ↗ If your vehicle plunges into water, what should you do first? Try to open a door and climb out Call 911 before anything else Remove your seat belt and open a window Wait for the cabin to fill with water Answer: Remove your seat belt and open a window
Remove your seat belt and open a window; opening a door is nearly impossible due to water pressure.
Handbook p. 64 ↗ After exiting a sinking vehicle, where should you go? Swim to shore right away Stay in the water beside the vehicle Re-enter the vehicle to retrieve belongings Move to the roof of the vehicle Answer: Move to the roof of the vehicle
Exit the vehicle and move to the roof, which keeps you dry and lets you ride the vehicle like a boat briefly.
Handbook p. 64 ↗ When should you swim for shore after your vehicle plunges into water? Only as a last resort Immediately after entering the water Only if wearing a life jacket Never under any circumstance Answer: Only as a last resort
Swim for shore only as a last resort, if emergency personnel haven't arrived before the vehicle sinks.
Handbook p. 64 ↗ You should never re-enter a sinking vehicle to gather possessions. True False Answer: True
The handbook explicitly instructs never re-entering the vehicle to gather possessions.
Handbook p. 64 ↗ Previous lesson After an accident Next lesson Impaired driving & spotting impaired drivers More in Accidents & Emergencies About the source Roadwise’s Indiana course uses the driver handbook edition supplied with this study pack. This lesson cites source pages 63, 64. The linked PDF is a third-party mirror of the handbook, rather than a government-hosted page.
Open the handbook source PDF · View the source edition
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