When making a turn, you must ____ your speed.
- Increase
- Maintain
- Vary
- Reduce ✓
Answer: D. Reduce
When making a turn, you must reduce your speed.
Why this is the answer
The Texas handbook's turning steps say to slow down to a reasonable turning speed before you begin the turn, and it notes the turn is easier when you are in the proper lane and going slowly enough as you start it. It also says not to use the brake or clutch while turning, which means the slowing has to happen beforehand. Cutting speed ahead of the turn is what sets up a controlled turn, so the choice that fits the handbook is to reduce speed.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. Increase — Increasing your speed before a turn goes against the handbook's instruction to slow down to a reasonable turning speed before turning.
- B. Maintain — Keeping the same speed ignores the handbook's step of slowing before the turn, and you cannot brake during the turn itself.
- C. Vary — Varying your speed is vague and does not describe the handbook's specific step of slowing down to a reasonable turning speed first.
Remember it
Do your slowing before the turn, not during it, because the handbook says no brake or clutch while turning.