While driving, your wheels slip off the edge of the road. You should:
- Jerk the steering wheel to force the vehicle back onto the pavement.
- Speed up and steer back onto the pavement gradually.
- Slam on your brakes and stop.
- Slow down by gently using the brakes. Turn the steering wheel to return to the pavement at a safe speed. ✓
Answer: D. Slow down by gently using the brakes. Turn the steering wheel to return to the pavement at a safe speed.
Slow down by gently using the brakes and turn the steering wheel to return to the pavement at a safe speed.
Why this is the answer
The Texas handbook's section on running off the pavement says not to hit the brakes suddenly and hard. It says to grip the wheel, take your foot off the gas, and use the brakes carefully. It also says not to swing back onto the pavement; wait until your speed is reduced, check traffic behind you, then carefully drive back. That matches gentle braking and a controlled return at a safe speed.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. Jerk the steering wheel to force the vehicle back onto the pavement. — Jerking the steering wheel to force the vehicle back is the swing back onto the pavement the handbook warns against.
- B. Speed up and steer back onto the pavement gradually. — Speeding up works against the handbook's instruction to take your foot off the gas and reduce speed before returning.
- C. Slam on your brakes and stop. — Slamming on the brakes is the sudden, hard braking the handbook says not to do.
Remember it
Off the pavement: ease off the gas, brake gently, and wait for speed to drop before easing back on.