Oncoming cars, steering locks and running off the road
A 3-minute lesson from the Wyoming course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
A car coming at you in your lane, a steering wheel that suddenly locks, or wheels dropping off the pavement can all cause a crash if you react wrong. Each has a simple, safe response to learn now.
If a vehicle is coming at you in your lane:
Slow down and try to warn the driver by flashing your headlights
If it keeps coming, pull as far right as possible
If it still keeps coming and a collision could happen, steer off the road to the right
Your right wheels drop off the edge of the pavement onto the gravel. Don't jerk the wheel back. Hold the wheel tightly, stay on the shoulder, ease off the gas and brake gently. Once you've slowed and traffic is clear, turn sharply back onto the pavement.
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 you run off the road, you should brake hard immediately and turn the wheel sharply back onto the pavement right away.
True
False
Answer: False
If you run off the road, ease off the accelerator, brake gently and slow gradually, then turn sharply back onto the pavement only after checking traffic.