If an oncoming vehicle is drifting into your lane, which action is safest?

• A. Steer to the shoulder or ditch
• B. Brake hard in the lane
• C. Swerve into the oncoming lane
• D. Accelerate to pass

Answer: (A)

When an oncoming vehicle drifts into your lane, steer toward the shoulder or ditch to get out of the other driver's path and maximize space. This creates the widest margin between you and the drifting car and reduces the chance of a head-on collision, which is the most dangerous outcome in this situation. Braking hard in the lane keeps you in the same path and can still lead to a crash as the other vehicle occupies your lane. Swerve into the oncoming lane, by contrast, risks colliding with traffic coming toward you. Accelerating to pass removes safety margin and may push you into the drifting car or into oncoming traffic. If the shoulder isn’t usable, slow down safely while continuing to steer away from the drifting vehicle and look for a safe place to stop.