Driving Tips > Safety Columns
Get back on the road – safely
It can happen to anyone: the right tires of your vehicle have dropped off the pavement and onto the shoulder. Perhaps you were forced to avoid another vehicle. Or maybe you were just distracted.
Do you know how to get back on the road safely?
Avoid sudden steering
Abruptly steering back onto the road can get you into much more danger. You may find yourself over-steering and crossing into the oncoming lane. This is a major cause of deadly head-on collisions.
Don’t hit the brakes
If you have two wheels on the road and two wheels on the gravel shoulder, you’ll have different traction on each side of your vehicle. If you hit the brakes, you may skid and lose control.
Remember the drop-off
There may be a ridge or drop-off between the roadway and the shoulder. This will make it more difficult to get safely back on the road.
Take it slow
If you’re partly off the road, keep a firm grip on the steering wheel. Slow down gradually by taking your foot off the gas pedal. Then check your mirror, signal and ease back onto the pavement, making sure not to over-steer.
Nodding off can be fatal
Driver fatigue is a common reason for this kind of emergency. If you find yourself feeling tired and unable to keep your vehicle on the road, it’s time to pull over and rest.
For more information, watch The 60-Second Driver on CTV and check out the following sections on our website:
- Off-Road Recovery in Driving Tips
- Drowsy Driving in Driving Tips
- You can access the 60-Second Driver video on Off-Road Recovery directly
