In an emergency leaving the roadway, at roughly what speed should you start braking?

Prepare for the California Class B Driving Test with multiple choice questions, study guides, hints, and explanations. Ensure you're ready to ace your exam and start driving on California roads!

Multiple Choice

In an emergency leaving the roadway, at roughly what speed should you start braking?

Explanation:
When you have to leave the roadway in an emergency, the goal is to slow down early so you can control the vehicle as you transition to the shoulder. Braking steadily as you approach the edge, until you’re down to roughly 20 mph, reduces momentum enough to steer away from obstacles and minimizes the chance of skidding on gravel or grass. Waiting longer or relying on ABS to tell you when to brake can leave you with too much speed at the edge, making it harder to regain control. So starting to brake around 20 mph is the safest, most controllable approach.

When you have to leave the roadway in an emergency, the goal is to slow down early so you can control the vehicle as you transition to the shoulder. Braking steadily as you approach the edge, until you’re down to roughly 20 mph, reduces momentum enough to steer away from obstacles and minimizes the chance of skidding on gravel or grass. Waiting longer or relying on ABS to tell you when to brake can leave you with too much speed at the edge, making it harder to regain control. So starting to brake around 20 mph is the safest, most controllable approach.

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