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Difficulty: HardEvasive Steering and Avoiding Collisions

A tractor-trailer is cruising in the right lane of a four-lane divided highway when an adjacent car loses control, spins across the lane, and comes to a halt 120 feet ahead, completely blocking the lane where stopping distance is insufficient. The right paved shoulder is clear and level. Which sequence of actions must the driver take to avoid a collision while preserving vehicle stability?

  1. A
    Lock the service brakes immediately while turning sharply onto the shoulder to minimize impact speed before clearing the car.
  2. B
    Maintain a straight course within the lane and apply maximum emergency braking, relying strictly on straight-line stopping distance.
  3. Steer firmly toward the clear shoulder without braking during the turn, and counter-steer immediately once past the vehicle to stabilize the rig.Answer
  4. D
    Turn the steering wheel toward the shoulder and hold that fixed steering angle until the combination unit comes to a complete rest.

Answer

Steer firmly toward the clear shoulder without braking during the turn, and counter-steer immediately once past the vehicle to stabilize the rig.
Steering around an obstacle requires staying off the brake pedal during the turn to maintain full tire traction for directional control. Once the vehicle clears the obstruction, the driver must immediately counter-steer (turn the wheel in the opposite direction) to stabilize the combination unit and prevent a rollover or departure from the road.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Recognize that the available stopping distance is insufficient and identify the clear escape path on the right shoulder.
Determines that an evasive steering maneuver to the right is necessary instead of straight-line braking.
Commercial motor vehicles can almost always turn to avoid an obstacle in less distance than it takes to come to a complete stop.
2
Turn the steering wheel firmly toward the shoulder while keeping off the service brake pedal.
Allows steer and drive tires to maintain optimal lateral traction to redirect the vehicle around the obstruction.
Braking while turning sharply easily locks the wheels and causes the vehicle to skid out of control or jackknife.
3
Counter-steer immediately once the vehicle has cleared the blocked lane.
Straightens the vehicle and stabilizes the combination unit in the recovery path.
Immediate counter-steering is essential to control lateral momentum and prevent rollover or running completely off the roadway.

Key Concept

Evasive Steering and Counter-Steering Mechanics
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Evasive Steering and Avoiding Collisions

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