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New Mexico driving lesson · Emergencies & Collisions

Avoiding a collision

A 3-minute lesson from the New Mexico course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Emergencies & Collisions
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
35

When a collision looks likely, many drivers panic and do nothing. You have three options: stop, turn or speed up. The right choice depends on your brakes and the space around you.

Your three options to avoid a collision:

  • Stop
  • Turn
  • Speed up
Handbook p. 35 ↗

ABS (Antilock Braking System)

Found on many newer vehicles, it lets you stop without skidding. Read your owner's manual on how to use it.

Handbook p. 35 ↗

Stopping quickly

Stopping quickly
BrakesWhat to do
With ABSPress as hard as you can and keep pressing
Without ABSBrake hard without locking the wheels
Without ABS, wheels lockQuickly let up, then press again; repeat
Handbook p. 35 ↗

Know the rule

With ABS you may feel the pedal push back. Don't let up; ABS only works with the pedal pushed down.

Handbook p. 35 ↗

Know the rule

In most cases you can turn quicker than you can stop, so consider turning to avoid a collision. Grip the wheel with both hands and steer where you want to go.

Handbook p. 35 ↗

Know the rule

With ABS you can turn while braking without skidding.

Handbook p. 35 ↗

Know the rule

Without ABS: brake, then let up and turn. Braking slows you and puts weight on the front tires for a quicker turn. Don't lock the front wheels or turn so sharply the vehicle plows ahead.

Handbook p. 35 ↗

Know the rule

Speed up to avoid a collision when a vehicle is about to hit you from the side or behind and there's room ahead. Slow down once the danger has passed.

Handbook p. 35 ↗

Put it into practice

A car runs a stop sign and is about to hit your side, but the road ahead is clear. Accelerating out of its path may be your best option; slow down again once you're clear.

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.

What are the three general options drivers have to avoid a collision?
  1. Stop, turn, or speed up
  2. Turn, reverse, or brake gently
  3. Stop, honk, or flash lights
  4. Speed up, honk, or pull over

Answer: Stop, turn, or speed up

In avoiding a collision, drivers have three options: stop, turn or speed up.

Handbook p. 35 ↗
With ABS, how should you brake to stop quickly?
  1. Use only the parking brake
  2. Pump the brake pedal repeatedly and rapidly
  3. Press gently and release every second
  4. Press the pedal as hard as you can and keep pressing

Answer: Press the pedal as hard as you can and keep pressing

With ABS, press on the brake pedal as hard as you can and keep pressing — the system does the pumping.

Handbook p. 35 ↗
Without ABS, what should you do if your brakes lock up and you start to skid?
  1. Keep pressing the brake pedal as hard as you can
  2. Quickly let up on the brake pedal, then reapply
  3. Turn the steering wheel sharply
  4. Shift into a higher gear immediately

Answer: Quickly let up on the brake pedal, then reapply

Without ABS, if the brakes lock and you skid, quickly let up, then push down again once the skid stops.

Handbook p. 35 ↗
Why might turning be a better option than stopping to avoid a collision?
  1. Braking always locks the wheels
  2. Turning doesn't require checking your mirrors
  3. You can usually turn quicker than you can stop
  4. Turning uses less of the tires' grip

Answer: You can usually turn quicker than you can stop

In most cases, you can turn the vehicle quicker than you can stop it.

Handbook p. 35 ↗
With ABS, what can you do while braking that you generally can't do without it?
  1. Steer with only one hand safely
  2. Brake and accelerate at the same time
  3. Stop in a much shorter distance on ice
  4. Turn while braking without skidding

Answer: Turn while braking without skidding

One benefit of ABS is that you can turn while braking without skidding.

Handbook p. 35 ↗
When is speeding up a reasonable option to avoid a collision?
  1. When a vehicle ahead stops suddenly
  2. When about to be hit, with room ahead
  3. Anytime another driver is tailgating you
  4. When approaching a yellow light

Answer: When about to be hit, with room ahead

Speed up when another vehicle is about to hit you from the side or behind and there is room in front to get out of danger.

Handbook p. 35 ↗
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