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General Knowledge · Driving Emergencies

What is the correct way to steer to avoid an obstacle in an emergency?

1.Keep both hands on the wheel and make a smooth, controlled steering movement, without slamming on the brakes at the same timeCorrect answer
2.Brake as hard as you possibly can while steering around the obstacle, so the vehicle loses speed at the moment it changes direction
3.Steer with one hand so that the other hand is free to brace yourself against the dash, giving you a steadier reference point to hold
4.Always steer to the left, regardless of what may happen to be sitting on either side of the vehicle at the time of the maneuver

Explanation

The correct response is a smooth, controlled steering movement with both hands on the wheel, without braking hard at the same time, since heavy braking while steering can cause the wheels to lock and the vehicle to skid at the exact moment steering control is most needed. 49 CFR 383.111(a)(14)(i) names evasive steering as required knowledge but does not specify the technique, so this is standard driver-training content, attributed to the manual. The wrong options share a common thread: each removes steering control right when it matters most, by combining hard braking with steering, by freeing only one hand from the wheel, or by picking a direction without regard to what is actually there.

Source: 49 CFR 383.111(a)(14)(i)

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