Avoiding collisions — Colorado Permit Test

To avoid a collision, drivers have three options: slow down or stop, turn, or speed up.

Many drivers freeze because they think braking is the only choice. There are three, and sometimes the brake is the worst of them.

To avoid a collision, drivers have three options

When a collision looks likely, there almost always is something you can do to avoid the crash or reduce its results, and many drivers panic and fail to act.

Doing nothing is the commonest response and the worst one. Knowing that there is usually an option is most of being able to take it.

When it looks like a collision may happen, many drivers panic and fail to act or act in a way that does not reduce the chance of the collision

With anti-lock brakes, to stop quickly apply the brakes with hard firm pressure, and do not let up on the brake pedal even if it pushes back.

The pedal pushing back is the system working. A driver who lifts off at that moment turns the system off exactly when it is needed.

Do not let up on the brake pedal

Without anti-lock brakes, apply the brakes as hard as you can without locking them, and if they lock up let up slightly and press again once the vehicle stops skidding.

A locked wheel slides and steers nothing. Releasing just enough for it to turn again is what gives the steering back.

Slightly let up on the brake pedal

In most cases you can turn the vehicle quicker than you can stop it, so consider turning to avoid a collision if it does not risk causing another one.

Steering takes less distance than braking at speed. The condition is that you have somewhere to go that is empty.

In most cases, you can turn the vehicle quicker than you can stop it

Make sure you have a good grip with both hands on the steering wheel before an evasive turn, and once you have turned away or changed lanes you must be ready to keep the vehicle under control.

The second half of an evasive turn is where cars are lost. Getting out of the way is only useful if you can then stay on the road.

Once you have turned away or changed lanes, you must be ready to keep the vehicle under control

With anti-lock brakes you can turn the vehicle while braking without skidding, which is very helpful if you must turn and stop or slow down.

Without the system, braking hard uses all the grip and leaves none for steering. The system shares it out so you can do both.

One aspect of having ABS is that you can turn your vehicle while braking without skidding

Without anti-lock brakes, step on the brake pedal, then let up and turn the steering wheel, releasing the brake before an evasive turn, and do not lock the front wheels or turn so sharply that the vehicle can only plow ahead.

Braking and steering compete for the same grip. Doing them one after the other is the only way to get both in a car without the system.

Braking will slow the vehicle some, the brake should be released before making an evasive turn

Generally it is better to run off the road than to crash head-on into another vehicle.

A head-on collision combines both vehicles speeds. The ditch is almost always the better of two bad choices.

Another consideration is that generally it is better to run off the road than to crash head-on into another vehicle.

Sometimes it is necessary to speed up to avoid a collision, such as when another vehicle is about to hit you from the side or behind and there is room ahead, and you should slow down once the danger has passed.

It is the option drivers never think of, and it is the right one when the danger is behind you and the road ahead is clear.

This may happen when another vehicle is about to hit you from the side or from behind and there is room to the front of you to get out of danger.

What are the three options for avoiding a collision?

Slow or stop, turn, or speed up. Many drivers freeze because they think braking is the only choice. There are three, and sometimes the brake is the worst of them. Colorado Driver Handbook, p.25: “To avoid a collision, drivers have three options”