Roadwise States Wyoming Driving lessons When a crash seems unavoidable Wyoming driving lesson · Crashes & Emergencies
When a crash seems unavoidable 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.
Read time 3 minutes
Course unit Crashes & Emergencies
Checkpoint questions 4
Source pages 80, 81 Sometimes a collision seems certain. Even then, what you do in the last seconds can turn a deadly head-on crash into a glancing blow or a near miss. Stay calm and follow three steps.
To make an unavoidable collision less dangerous: First, slow as fast as possible Second, turn away Third, when appropriate, speed up Handbook p. 80 ↗ Know the rule
Slow quickly: pump conventional brakes for better control and steering. Pressing too hard and steadily can cause a skid.
Handbook p. 81 ↗ Know the rule
With anti-lock brakes, apply hard, steady pressure; the system adjusts automatically.
Handbook p. 81 ↗ Know the rule
Turn away: never hit the other vehicle head-on. Run off the road if necessary. The rule of thumb is to turn right.
Handbook p. 81 ↗ Know the rule
Try not to brake while turning away; braking makes a skid more likely and may keep you from turning.
Handbook p. 81 ↗ Know the rule
Speed up to avoid a collision from the side or behind if there's room. Push the gas pedal to the floor, then slow once the danger has passed.
Handbook p. 81 ↗ In the last short seconds: Don't panic Turn away from oncoming traffic; choose a glancing blow over a head-on crash If necessary, choose to hit something that will more likely give way Handbook p. 81 ↗ If your gas pedal sticks: Concentrate on steering and keep your eyes on the road Try to free the pedal with your foot; if that fails, push in the clutch or shift to neutral Brake, stop at the nearest safe place and turn off the ignition Find out what caused the problem and have it repaired Handbook p. 81 ↗ Put it into practice
A car runs a stop sign and is about to hit your door from the side, and the road ahead is clear. Speeding up can get you out of its path. Once the danger has passed, slow back down.
A useful reminder Head-on is the worst crash. Turn away, usually to the right, even if that means leaving the road.
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 there is room, speeding up can help you avoid a collision from the side or from behind. True False Answer: True
The handbook says to speed up to avoid a collision from the side or behind if there is room, then slow once the danger has passed.
Handbook p. 81 ↗ If your gas pedal sticks, what should you try first, after concentrating on steering? Turn off the ignition immediately at highway speed Pump the brake pedal rapidly Pull the parking brake hard Try to free the pedal with your foot Answer: Try to free the pedal with your foot
If your gas pedal sticks, concentrate on steering, then try to free the pedal with your foot before shifting to neutral if needed.
Handbook p. 81 ↗ A crash seems imminent and you must slow quickly. How should you brake with conventional (non-ABS) brakes? Press hard and hold steady pressure Pump the brakes Stomp the pedal until the wheels lock Use only the parking brake Answer: Pump the brakes
Pump conventional brakes for better control and steering; pushing the pedal too hard and steadily can cause a skid.
Handbook p. 81 ↗ A head-on collision seems unavoidable. Which way does the handbook's rule of thumb say to turn away? To the left, into the other lane To the right Toward the other vehicle's rear Straight ahead while braking hard Answer: To the right
Never hit the other vehicle head-on; turn away, running off the road if necessary. The rule of thumb is to turn right.
Handbook p. 81 ↗ Previous lesson What to do after a crash Next lesson Skids, brake failure and blowouts More in Crashes & Emergencies About the source Roadwise’s Wyoming course uses the driver handbook edition supplied with this study pack. This lesson cites source pages 80, 81. 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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