A vehicle merges in front of you too closely. What should you do?
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A.
Take your foot off the accelerator to open space Correct
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B.
Brake firmly to fall well behind them
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C.
Move over immediately to another lane
The answer is "Take your foot off the accelerator to open space"
The manual says to take your foot off the accelerator when a vehicle merges too close in front of you, which opens space without startling the driver behind. Choice B comes from drivers who reach for the brake pedal on instinct, but a firm brake here creates a rear-end risk the coast-off-the-throttle avoids.
The traps in the wrong answers
B. Brake firmly to fall well behind them
The manual does not tell you to brake in this situation; braking firmly startles the driver behind you. This answer reaches for the brake pedal on instinct, when the manual's move is a coast-off-the-throttle without touching the brakes.
C. Move over immediately to another lane
The manual's step here is a speed change, not a lane change. This answer applies the general 'move out of trouble' habit instead of the specific throttle-lift the manual prescribes.
This question tests your knowledge of Defensive Driving in California. Source: California Driver Manual, "Tailgating (Following Too Closely)," p.57..
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