Avoiding crashes — Kentucky Permit Test

A Kentucky driver has three options to avoid a crash or reduce its impact: braking, steering or accelerating.

Braking is not always the answer, and knowing the other two is what makes the choice possible.

These options are braking, steering, or accelerating.

An anti-lock braking system lets a Kentucky driver stop without skidding and keep steering control.

The system exists so the driver can steer while stopping, which locked wheels make impossible.

The ABS will allow you to stop your vehicle without skidding and keep steering control.

Using anti-lock brakes in Kentucky means pressing the brake pedal as hard as possible and keeping the pressure on.

Easing off is the instinct, and it is the one thing that switches the system off.

Press on the brake pedal as hard as you can and keep applying pressure.

A Kentucky driver using anti-lock brakes may feel the pedal vibrate and hear a clicking noise, which is normal.

The noise is what makes drivers lift off, exactly when they should not.

You may feel the pedal vibrate and you may hear a clicking noise. This is normal.

To quickly steer around a problem in Kentucky, a driver keeps a good grip with both hands, steers in the direction they want to go and tries to avoid other traffic.

Both hands on the wheel is what makes a fast steering correction possible at all.

Make sure you have a good grip with both hands on the steering wheel.

After clearing a problem in Kentucky, a driver steers in the opposite direction to straighten out the vehicle, gain control and start slowing.

Half of a swerve is the dangerous half. Straightening out is what finishes it.

When you have cleared the problem, steer in the opposite direction to straighten out your vehicle, gain control, and start slowing.

If an animal runs in front of a Kentucky vehicle, the driver should brake and steer to miss the animal.

Braking and steering together is the answer the manual gives, rather than swerving alone.

If an animal runs in front of your vehicle, you should brake and steer to miss the animal.

It may be necessary for a Kentucky driver to accelerate to avoid a crash, such as when another vehicle is about to hit them from behind or the side.

Speeding up is the one escape a driver never thinks of, and sometimes it is the only one.

It may be necessary to accelerate to avoid a crash. It may happen when another vehicle is about to hit you from behind or the side.

What three options does Kentucky give for avoiding a crash?

Braking, steering or accelerating. Braking is not always the answer, and knowing the other two is what makes the choice possible. Kentucky Driver Manual, p.55: “These options are braking, steering, or accelerating.”