When returning to the roadway after an evasive steering maneuver forces a commercial vehicle onto an unpaved shoulder with a vertical pavement drop-off, the driver should maintain highway cruising speed and ease gradually back onto the paved surface.
Answer: Answer
Answer
False. Drivers must not ease gradually back onto the pavement at cruising speed; they should decelerate on the shoulder to approximately 20 mph before executing a decisive turn onto the pavement followed immediately by counter-steering.
The statement is false because commercial driving safety standards prohibit easing gradually onto the roadway when an edge drop-off is present. Easing gently causes the tires to rub against the edge lip without mounting it; when the tires eventually grip the surface, the sudden surge of traction catapults the vehicle across the travel lane into adjacent or oncoming traffic. Safe recovery requires staying on the shoulder while braking gently until speed drops to roughly 20 mph, turning the steering wheel sharply enough to climb the edge cleanly, and counter-steering immediately to stabilize the vehicle in its lane.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Off-Road Recovery and Counter-Steering Techniques Across Pavement Edge Drop-Offs