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Difficulty: MediumDefensive Driving and Hazard Anticipation

You are driving at a low speed through a residential neighborhood when a ball rolls out into the street from between two parked vehicles ahead. Which defensive driving action should you take first?

  1. Slow down immediately, cover the brake pedal, and anticipate that a child might run into the roadway.Answer
  2. B
    Maintain your current speed while sounding the horn continuously to warn pedestrians to stay on the sidewalk.
  3. C
    Swerve immediately into the oncoming traffic lane without reducing speed to bypass the rolling object.
  4. D
    Maintain speed and apply hard emergency braking only if a person actually steps into the street.

Answer

Slow down immediately, cover the brake pedal, and anticipate that a child might run into the roadway.
Defensive driving requires anticipating hidden or developing hazards before they materialize. A rolling ball is a classic early warning sign that a child may run out into the street. The safest action is to immediately reduce speed, cover the brake pedal, and prepare to stop.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify early hazard cues
Recognize that a rolling ball in a residential area frequently indicates a child following closely behind.
Defensive driving relies on scanning ahead to detect clues that signal developing hazards.
2
Prepare for immediate stopping
Release the accelerator pedal, place the foot over the brake pedal (covering the brake), and begin slowing down.
Covering the brake significantly reduces total stopping distance by eliminating reaction time delay.

Key Concept

Hazard Anticipation and Defensive Reaction
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Defensive Driving and Hazard Anticipation

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