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Difficulty: MediumDefensive Driving and Hazard Anticipation

You are driving along a residential street and notice a delivery van parked near the curb at an intersection, completely blocking your view of the crosswalk and side street entrance. What is the proper defensive driving action to take as you approach this hazard?

  1. Reduce your speed, cover the brake, and scan for hidden pedestrians or emerging vehicles before continuing into the intersection.Answer
  2. B
    Maintain your posted speed limit while continuously sounding your horn to force potential cross traffic to yield.
  3. C
    Accelerate quickly past the parked van to minimize the amount of time your vehicle spends in the blind zone.
  4. D
    Steer into the opposing lane of traffic to give the parked van wide clearance without reducing your speed.

Answer

The defensive driver should reduce speed, cover the brake pedal, and carefully scan the obstructed area for hidden pedestrians or cross traffic before proceeding.
When a large vehicle blocks your view of an intersection or crosswalk, defensive driving principles require reducing speed and covering the brake pedal. This proactive posture reduces your stopping distance and allows immediate stopping if a pedestrian steps out or a car pulls out from behind the visual obstruction.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify potential sightline hazards
Recognize that the parked delivery van creates a sightline obstruction at an intersection crosswalk.
Defensive driving requires anticipating hazards that cannot yet be seen due to physical barriers.
2
Adjust speed and vehicle control position
Ease off the accelerator and place your foot over the brake pedal (covering the brake) without fully depressing it.
Covering the brake eliminates reaction lag time if a pedestrian or vehicle suddenly emerges from behind the obstruction.
3
Scan and evaluate before proceeding
Look around and under the parked vehicle for indications of motion, such as foot traffic or turning wheels.
Thorough visual scanning verifies that the path remains clear before committing to enter the intersection.

Key Concept

Hazard Anticipation and Blind Corner Clearance
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Defensive Driving and Hazard Anticipation

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