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Difficulty: Very hardDefensive Driving and Hazard Anticipation

While traveling in the left lane of a multi-lane urban roadway, you observe a large delivery truck in the adjacent right lane slowing down significantly as it approaches an uncontrolled intersection with a marked crosswalk, partially obscuring your view of the right curb. Simultaneously, a vehicle behind you is following at an unsafe, tailgating distance. Which of the following defensive driving actions best demonstrates proper hazard anticipation and space cushion management?

  1. Ease off the accelerator to cover your brake, gradually increase your space cushion, and prepare to stop if a pedestrian emerges from in front of the truck.Answer
  2. B
    Accelerate past the slowing truck to clear the intersection quickly before any hidden hazard enters your lane.
  3. C
    Maintain your posted speed since vehicles traveling in the left lane have automatic right-of-way over vehicles and pedestrians at uncontrolled crossings.
  4. D
    Apply maximum braking pressure immediately to match the truck's position, ensuring you stop at the exact same point as the adjacent vehicle.

Answer

The driver should ease off the accelerator to cover the brake, gradually increase the forward space cushion, and prepare to yield if a pedestrian steps out from in front of the obscured truck.
Easing off the accelerator to cover the brake and gradually slowing down is the safest action. It allows the driver to prepare for hidden pedestrians obscured by the truck while avoiding sudden braking that could cause the tailgater behind to cause a rear-end crash.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify potential sight obstruction and hidden hazards.
Recognize that the large truck slowing near a crosswalk likely indicates a pedestrian is crossing, even if currently hidden from view.
Defensive driving requires anticipating potential hazards before they become visible.
2
Evaluate rear-end traffic risk.
Acknowledge the tailgating vehicle directly behind.
Hard braking could cause a rear-end collision, so deceleration must be smooth and controlled.
3
Execute space management and speed reduction.
Ease off the accelerator, cover the brake pedal, and reduce speed gradually.
This alerts the tailgater behind while providing enough stopping distance if the pedestrian enters the left lane.

Key Concept

Hazard anticipation and space cushion management near obscured crosswalks
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Topics

Defensive Driving and Hazard Anticipation

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