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Difficulty: MediumEvasive Steering and Avoiding Collisions

While traveling at 45 mph on a multi-lane highway, a piece of heavy equipment suddenly rolls out from a roadside work zone into your path. Realizing that your stopping distance exceeds the remaining space, you identify an open adjacent lane. What is the correct procedure for executing an evasive steering maneuver to avoid a collision?

  1. Steer firmly around the hazard without applying the brakes, then immediately counter-steer to stabilize the vehicle in the open lane.Answer
  2. B
    Apply maximum service braking while making the sharp steering turn into the adjacent lane to minimize total stopping distance.
  3. C
    Turn the steering wheel sharply and hold that steering angle until the vehicle has fully cleared the obstruction.
  4. D
    Remain in the lane and rely strictly on straight-line braking, because a commercial vehicle cannot steer faster than it can stop.

Answer

Steer firmly around the hazard without applying the brakes, then immediately counter-steer to stabilize the vehicle in the open lane.
According to commercial driving safety standards, a driver can almost always steer around an obstacle in a shorter distance than stopping. Staying completely off the brakes during the evasive turn prevents wheel lockup, while counter-steering immediately after clearing the obstacle stabilizes the vehicle and prevents secondary collisions.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Evaluate the emergency and recognize that evasive steering is faster than stopping.
Driver chooses steering avoidance rather than trying to stop in an insufficient distance.
At highway speeds, steering requires significantly less distance than total stopping distance.
2
Turn the steering wheel only as much as necessary to clear the obstacle without touching the brake pedal.
Front tires maintain full traction and direct the vehicle into the clear path.
Braking while turning sharply can lock wheels and cause uncontrollable skids or rollovers.
3
Counter-steer immediately once the vehicle clears the hazard to straighten and stabilize the unit.
The commercial vehicle stays within the new lane without rolling or darting off the roadway.
Counter-steering cancels the lateral momentum and prevents the rear of the vehicle from whipping out.

Key Concept

Evasive steering technique: steering without braking and immediate counter-steering
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Evasive Steering and Avoiding Collisions

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