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Difficulty: HardDefensive Driving and Hazard Anticipation

While traveling on a two-lane road with a single lane in each direction, you observe a long queue of stationary vehicles in the opposing traffic lane due to a road obstruction ahead. Which of the following describes the primary potential hazard you should anticipate and the most effective defensive action to take?

  1. Anticipate that an opposing vehicle or pedestrian may unexpectedly enter your lane through gaps in the queue; decrease speed, hover your foot over the brake, and position your vehicle toward the outer right edge of your lane.Answer
  2. B
    Maintain your posted cruising speed because your lane of travel is entirely unobstructed and opposing traffic is legally obligated to remain within their lane boundaries.
  3. C
    Sound your horn continuously while accelerating past the queue to warn opposing drivers not to pull out into your lane.
  4. D
    Come to a complete stop before reaching the queued vehicles and flash your headlights to allow opposing drivers to complete their turns in front of you.

Answer

Anticipate that an opposing vehicle or pedestrian may unexpectedly enter your lane through gaps in the queue; decrease speed, hover your foot over the brake, and position your vehicle toward the outer right edge of your lane.
When approaching a queue of stationary vehicles in an adjacent or opposing lane, a defensive driver recognizes that the stopped vehicles create visual blockages. Hidden hazards—such as pedestrians crossing between cars or impatient drivers pulling across your path—are likely to emerge. Decreasing speed, covering the brake to eliminate reaction lag, and shifting toward the outer right portion of your lane establishes an essential time and space cushion.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the visual environment for sight obstructions and hidden hazards.
Identify that a stationary line of opposing vehicles obscures sightlines to driveways, crosswalks, and vehicle doors on the left side of your lane.
Queued traffic creates sight-line blockages where drivers or pedestrians may cross or turn without seeing oncoming traffic.
2
Determine potential driver and pedestrian behaviors in the queue.
Recognize the risk of opposing drivers pulling out to U-turn or turn left through gaps, as well as pedestrians stepping between stopped cars.
Hazard anticipation requires predicting mistakes or unexpected actions from other road users before they occur.
3
Select proactive defensive adjustments to speed and lane position.
Slow down, cover the brake pedal to reduce reaction time, and shift laterally to the right side of the lane to maximize space buffer.
Creating time and space buffers allows for safe stopping or evasive maneuvering if an unexpected obstacle enters your path.

Key Concept

Defensive Driving and Hazard Anticipation around Traffic Visual Obstructions
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Defensive Driving and Hazard Anticipation

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