California Car / Permit practice question · Handling Emergencies
If your right wheels drift off the pavement onto the dirt shoulder, you should:
Answer choices
- Ease off the gas and steer back gently— Correct answer
- Brake hard and steer back quickly
- Speed up to climb back onto the road
- Turn the wheel sharply toward the pavement
Why this is the answer
If your wheels drift off the pavement, grip the steering wheel firmly, take your foot off the accelerator, brake gently, check for traffic behind you, and then carefully steer back onto the road. Do not pull or turn the wheel with too much force, which could send you into oncoming traffic. Braking hard is also wrong.
Source: California Driver Handbook — Handling Emergencies
Content reviewed against official driver handbooks · August 12, 2026
More Handling Emergencies questions
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- If your vehicle starts to skid on a slippery surface such as ice or packed snow, you should:
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