To avoid crashing, which of the following is true?

• A. All of the above
• B. Brake hard immediately
• C. Swerve into another lane
• D. Speed up to lighten load

Answer: (D)

To avoid crashing, the focus is on slowing down with control and choosing space to maneuver safely. Slamming the brakes can cause loss of steering control, especially on wet or slick surfaces, and might not give you enough distance to stop. Swerve into another lane and hope for the best places you in the path of other drivers and adds uncertainty about what’s in that lane. The idea of speeding up to lighten a load isn’t a valid or useful approach here; increasing speed reduces your ability to react and can make a crash more severe. In practice, look ahead to create a clear path, ease off the accelerator, and brake smoothly to reduce speed while keeping your wheels straight and under control. If there’s a safe option to steer around the obstacle without leaving your lane, do so, but only when you can do it without compromising other drivers. This balanced approach—reduce speed safely and maneuver with control—greatly lowers crash risk compared with the other options.