CDL General Knowledge TestDriving SafelyMedium
You are driving a commercial vehicle and your front wheel suddenly leaves the paved surface and drops onto the shoulder. What is the safest immediate action to take?
- ABrake hard and steer back onto the road.
- BHold the steering wheel firmly, slow down gradually, and then steer gently back onto the road when safe.
- CImmediately steer sharply back onto the road.
- DAccelerate to maintain control and then steer back quickly.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Hold the steering wheel firmly, slow down gradually, and then steer gently back onto the road when safe.
If a wheel drops off the pavement, the safest action is to hold the steering wheel firmly to maintain control, slow down gradually without braking sharply, and then steer gently back onto the road when the speed is reduced and it's safe to do so. Sharp steering or braking can cause a loss of control, especially with a heavy vehicle.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Braking hard can cause the vehicle to pull towards the shoulder, making it harder to control and potentially causing a skid.
- C. Steering sharply can cause the vehicle to swerve violently, potentially leading to a rollover or collision.
- D. Accelerating can worsen the situation by making it harder to control the vehicle and increasing the risk of overcorrection.
Driving Off Pavement Recovery
If a vehicle's wheels drop off the paved surface, the driver should grip the steering wheel firmly, ease off the accelerator, avoid hard braking, and gently steer back onto the road once speed is reduced and it's safe.
- Hold steering wheel firmly.
- Ease off accelerator; avoid hard braking.
- Slow down gradually.
- Steer gently back onto pavement when clear.
Memory trick: Off-road, don't be bold; slow and steady, that's the gold!