What's the FIRST thing to do if your vehicle drifts off the road in Oregon?
-
A.
Brake hard to stop as fast as possible.
-
B.
Slow down without braking hard. Correct
-
C.
Turn sharply back onto the road.
-
D.
Stop immediately wherever you are.
The answer is "Slow down without braking hard."
The handbook's procedure: don't panic, don't brake hard, slow down until you can get back on the road safely, grip the steering wheel firmly to keep the vehicle straight, and turn the front wheels just enough to get back on. Sharp steering can throw you across the road into oncoming traffic, and a hard stop on a soft shoulder can cause a skid or rollover.
The traps in the wrong answers
A. Brake hard to stop as fast as possible.
The handbook explicitly says not to brake hard; a hard stop on a soft shoulder can cause a skid or rollover. Misreading: Inverts the manual's explicit instruction not to brake hard when a wheel leaves the pavement.
C. Turn sharply back onto the road.
The manual warns against turning sharply because it can send you across the road into oncoming traffic. Misreading: Confuses the rule to turn the front wheels just enough with a sharp corrective steer the manual prohibits.
D. Stop immediately wherever you are.
The first move is to slow down while keeping control; stop only after you can do so safely. Misreading: Treats slowing down to safely re-enter the road as if it meant stopping in place on the shoulder.
This question tests your knowledge of Emergencies in Oregon. Source: Oregon Driver Manual, "Driving Off the Road," p.75..
Related Oregon questions
- According to the Oregon handbook, what THREE actions can a driver take to avoid or minimize the impact of a collision? →
- An oncoming vehicle is drifting into your lane on an Oregon two-lane road. What does the handbook recommend? →
- You hit and injure a domestic animal while driving in Oregon. What must you do? →
- A person riding on horseback on an Oregon road raises a hand as you approach. What must you do? →
- In what situation might speeding up be the right collision-avoidance response? →
The Oregon book is on the way
Drop your email and we'll send the free Oregon cheat sheet now, plus a note the moment the book is available.