You are driving on a two-lane road approaching a steep hill crest where your forward line of sight is severely restricted. As you near the crest, which of the following is the safest defensive driving practice to anticipate potential hazards beyond your visual range?
- Reduce your speed, cover the brake, and position your vehicle toward the right side of your lane.Answer
- BIncrease your speed slightly to crest the hill quickly and minimize time spent in the area of low visibility.
- CMove closer to the center yellow line to get an earlier view of the roadway over the crest.
- DMaintain your set speed and flash your high-beam headlights repeatedly to alert any oncoming drivers.
Answer
Reduce speed, cover the brake, and stay toward the right side of your lane when approaching a blind hill crest.
When approaching a blind hill crest, defensive driving principles require adjusting your speed so that your stopping distance never exceeds your clear sight distance. Positioning your vehicle toward the right edge of your lane provides a safe cushion against oncoming vehicles that might be straddling the centerline, while covering the brake reduces reaction time if a hazard appears.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Defensive sightline management and hazard anticipation at blind hill crests