What should you do if you have to leave the road?

When you find yourself in a situation where you need to leave the road, the best course of action is to try to keep one set of wheels on the pavement. This approach helps maintain control of the vehicle and allows you to navigate the situation more safely. By keeping one set of wheels on the pavement, you minimize the risk of losing control, as the friction from the pavement can help stabilize the vehicle.

This technique is particularly important because if you completely remove all wheels from the road, you may encounter difficulties in steering or regaining control, especially if you are driving on soft or unstable ground, such as gravel or grass. Additionally, maintaining some contact with the pavement can provide you with a better chance of safely re-entering the road without veering off into potentially dangerous areas, such as oncoming traffic or obstacles.

In contrast, pressing the brakes immediately could lead to skidding or loss of control, accelerating could take you further away from the road's edge without a safe way to return, and stopping in the middle of the road is dangerous and could result in a collision. Therefore, trying to keep one set of wheels on the pavement provides a more controlled means of managing the situation effectively.