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South Carolina driving lesson · Emergency Situations

Avoiding collisions & handling skids

A 3-minute lesson from the South Carolina 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
Emergency Situations
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
104, 105, 106

Even careful drivers end up in emergencies. Every driver is responsible for doing all they can to prevent collisions, and if you're prepared you can often keep a close call from turning serious.

Know the rule

Your three options to avoid a collision or reduce its impact are braking, steering and accelerating.

Handbook p. 104 ↗

ABS (anti-lock braking system)

Brakes on most new vehicles that let you stop without skidding while keeping steering control.

Handbook p. 104 ↗

Using ABS in an emergency:

  • Press the brake pedal as hard as you can and keep constant pressure
  • Don't pump the brakes; pumping deactivates ABS
  • ABS works only while you keep pressure on the pedal
  • A vibrating pedal or clicking noise is normal
  • You can still steer while ABS is working
Handbook p. 104 ↗

Know the rule

If your vehicle doesn't have ABS, follow the braking procedure in your owner's manual.

Handbook p. 105 ↗

Steering around a problem (swerving):

  • Keep a good grip with both hands on the wheel
  • Steer in the direction you want to go, avoiding other traffic
  • Once clear, steer the opposite way to straighten out, regain control and adjust speed
Handbook p. 105 ↗

Know the rule

Accelerating may be the way out when another vehicle is about to hit you from behind or from the side.

Handbook p. 105 ↗

Know the rule

Skids happen when you're going too fast for conditions, stop suddenly, or the tires can no longer grip the road. You have little control once skidding.

Handbook p. 105 ↗

If your vehicle begins to skid:

  • Release pressure from the brake or accelerator
  • Look where you want to go and steer in that direction
Handbook p. 105 ↗

Panic steering

Trying to jerk the vehicle back onto the pavement as soon as the wheels drop off the edge.

Handbook p. 106 ↗

Know the rule

If your wheels leave the pavement at an uneven drop-off, slow down gradually when it's safe and steer gently back on. Keep steering slight, gradually moving off and back on the road.

Handbook p. 106 ↗

Put it into practice

A car pulls out in front of you and you stomp on the brakes. The pedal buzzes and clicks. That's the ABS working. Keep full pressure, don't pump, and steer around the car if there's room.

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 options available to avoid a collision or reduce its impact?
  1. Braking, honking, or flashing lights
  2. Steering, honking, or stopping suddenly
  3. Accelerating, signaling, or reversing
  4. Braking, steering, or accelerating

Answer: Braking, steering, or accelerating

You have three options to avoid a collision or reduce its impact: braking, steering, or accelerating.

Handbook p. 104 ↗
When using ABS (anti-lock braking system), you should:
  1. Press hard and hold steady pressure
  2. Pump the brakes rapidly
  3. Release and reapply pressure every second
  4. Use the parking brake instead

Answer: Press hard and hold steady pressure

Press the brake pedal as hard as you can and keep applying constant pressure; do not pump the brakes.

Handbook p. 104 ↗
Pumping the brakes on a vehicle with ABS will:
  1. Improve stopping performance
  2. Deactivate the ABS system
  3. Have no effect on ABS
  4. Automatically engage the parking brake

Answer: Deactivate the ABS system

Do not pump the brakes because this will deactivate ABS.

Handbook p. 104 ↗
If your vehicle begins to skid, you should:
  1. Brake as hard as possible immediately
  2. Accelerate sharply to regain control
  3. Ease off the pedals and steer where you want to go
  4. Turn the wheel opposite the direction you want to go

Answer: Ease off the pedals and steer where you want to go

If your vehicle begins to skid, release pressure from the brake or accelerator and steer in the direction you want to go.

Handbook p. 105 ↗
'Panic steering' after an uneven surface drop-off refers to:
  1. Jerking the wheel to return to the pavement too quickly
  2. Braking too gently
  3. Signaling before returning to the road
  4. Slowing down gradually before returning

Answer: Jerking the wheel to return to the pavement too quickly

Panic steering means trying to return to the pavement as soon as the wheels leave it, which is dangerous.

Handbook p. 106 ↗
If your vehicle leaves the paved surface due to an uneven drop-off, you should:
  1. Steer sharply back onto the road immediately
  2. Slow gradually, then steer gently back
  3. Accelerate to regain the road surface
  4. Brake hard and turn the wheel fully

Answer: Slow gradually, then steer gently back

Slow down gradually when safe to do so, and steer gently back onto the pavement.

Handbook p. 106 ↗
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