You have allowed the wheels of your vehicle to run off the edge of the pavement. What should you do first?
- Turn the front wheels slightly to the left to edge the car back onto the pavement.
- Hold the steering wheel firmly, release the gas pedal, and gently apply the brakes. ✓
- Apply the brakes and turn the front wheels sharply to the left.
Answer: B. Hold the steering wheel firmly, release the gas pedal, and gently apply the brakes.
Hold the steering wheel firmly, release the gas pedal, and gently apply the brakes.
Why this is the answer
The handbook's steps for wheels drifting off the pavement start with gripping the wheel firmly, then taking your foot off the accelerator and braking gently, and only after that checking traffic and steering back on. The first thing to do is the grip-release-brake sequence, because you need to slow down and keep control before you try to steer back. The handbook also warns not to pull or turn the wheel with too much force, since that can send you into oncoming traffic.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. Turn the front wheels slightly to the left to edge the car back onto the pavement. — Turning the wheels left to edge back on comes later in the handbook's steps, after you have gripped the wheel, let off the gas, braked gently, and checked behind you.
- C. Apply the brakes and turn the front wheels sharply to the left. — Braking and turning sharply to the left skips the gentle slowdown first and matches the handbook's warning against forcing the steering wheel, which can push you into oncoming traffic.
Remember it
Grip, ease off the gas, brake lightly, look behind, then steer back gently.
Official handbook: California Driver Handbook (DL 600), Section 8: Safe Driving, p. 68