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Difficulty: HardStatic Hazards

While travelling through a busy commercial district with cars parked along the kerb, you spot exhaust fumes emerging from a stationary vehicle ahead whose front wheels are turned outwards towards the lane. What is the safest course of action to take?

  1. A
    Increase your speed to pass the stationary vehicle before it begins moving out into your path.
  2. Slow down progressively, assess your mirrors, leave adequate clearance, and be prepared to stop if the vehicle pulls out.Answer
  3. C
    Maintain your cruising speed while fixating your gaze strictly on the stationary car's rear bumper.
  4. D
    Steer towards the centre line immediately to overtake without checking your right exterior mirror or blind spot.

Answer

Slow down progressively, assess your mirrors, leave adequate clearance, and be prepared to stop if the vehicle pulls out.
Observing exhaust fumes and wheels turned towards the carriageway indicates that a parked vehicle is preparing to move off into the flow of traffic. Defensive driving principles dictate that you must reduce speed smoothly, check your mirrors to understand surrounding traffic conditions, give a generous clearance buffer (at least the width of an open car door), and remain prepared to stop if the driver moves out without looking.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify early indicators of movement from static roadside vehicles.
Recognised exhaust fumes and outward-turned wheels as clear signs that a parked vehicle is preparing to enter live traffic.
Early hazard perception gives the driver time to adjust speed and road position before an obstruction blocks the lane.
2
Check interior and exterior mirrors while gently easing off the accelerator.
Assessed following traffic and reduced vehicle momentum without sudden braking.
Allows following drivers to react smoothly to your speed reduction and ensures you know what is around your vehicle.
3
Adopt a safe road position providing at least a door-width clearance and cover the brake.
Maintained a defensive safety margin to stop safely if the driver pulls out without looking.
Guards against opening car doors, emerging pedestrians, and sudden pull-out manoeuvres from the kerb.

Key Concept

Defensive anticipation and management of static roadside hazards and moving-off indicators
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Static Hazards

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