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Difficulty: HardDefensive Driving and Hazard Anticipation

While traveling in the right lane of a two-lane one-way street, you observe a bicyclist 200 feet ahead approaching a parked delivery vehicle that completely blocks the designated bike lane. Simultaneously, a tailgating vehicle is following closely behind you, and another vehicle is traveling alongside you in your left-side blind spot. What is the safest defensive driving action to take?

  1. A
    Maintain your posted speed and tap your horn to signal to the bicyclist that they must wait behind the parked vehicle until you pass.
  2. Gradually ease off the accelerator early to create a space cushion ahead, allowing the bicyclist room to safely merge into your lane while giving the tailgater time to react.Answer
  3. C
    Immediately swerve into the left lane to maintain your speed and avoid slowing down behind the bicyclist.
  4. D
    Apply your brakes firmly to come to an immediate stop in your lane well before reaching the obstacle.

Answer

Gradually ease off the accelerator early to create a space cushion ahead, allowing the bicyclist room to safely merge into your lane while giving the tailgater time to react.
Anticipating potential hazards requires early speed management and space cushion control. Recognizing that the bicyclist will be forced to merge around the blocked bike lane, easing off the accelerator early creates a safe buffer zone ahead while allowing the vehicle following closely behind sufficient time and distance to slow down smoothly without causing a rear-end collision.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Scan and identify all surrounding hazards.
Identify the primary hazard (bicyclist forced to merge due to a blocked lane), the secondary hazard (adjacent vehicle in blind spot), and the rear hazard (tailgating vehicle).
Effective defensive driving requires scanning 10 to 15 seconds ahead and monitoring 360-degree surroundings before acting.
2
Evaluate potential safe escape routes or space management options.
Determine that an immediate lane change is blocked by the vehicle in the blind spot, and sudden hard braking would trigger a rear-end crash from the tailgater.
Defensive drivers evaluate risks in all directions before selecting a maneuver.
3
Execute early, gradual speed reduction.
Easing off the accelerator opens up a safe gap ahead for the bicyclist while giving the trailing driver ample visual notice to reduce speed without hard braking.
Gradual speed adjustment mitigates multiple hazards simultaneously while preserving safety buffers.

Key Concept

Defensive Driving and Hazard Anticipation
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Defensive Driving and Hazard Anticipation

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