Question

You are driving about 45 mph when a situation occurs and you must avoid a collision by either braking or steering. You have a clear path to the right. What should you do?

1) Brake
2) Steer to the right
3) Continue driving at the same speed
4) Accelerate

Answer 1

If you need to avoid a collision at 45 mph and have a clear path, the best option is to steer to the right to avoid the obstacle swiftly and safely without risking control loss from sudden braking.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the situation described, where you are driving at about 45 mph and must avoid a collision by either braking or steering, with a clear path to the right, the best option to take is to steer to the right. This action allows you to quickly avoid the immediate danger without the risk of losing control that can come with sudden braking at high speeds. Moreover, if you were to break suddenly, the car behind you might not have enough time to react, leading to a rear-end collision.

It's important to consider the physics of driving when faced with such scenarios. Acceleration in driving terms can mean speeding up, slowing down, or changing direction. In situations where a collision can only be avoided through immediate action, steering to avoid an obstacle while maintaining control is often the safer option compared to braking, especially if the road conditions and the vehicle's capabilities are uncertain.