What action should be taken if you encounter a road hazard?

When encountering a road hazard, the appropriate action is to reduce speed and maneuver. This response prioritizes safety, allowing the driver to maintain control of the vehicle while assessing the hazard. Reducing speed gives you more time to observe and react to the situation, whether that means avoiding an obstacle, adjusting your path to prevent an accident, or navigating around debris.

Maintaining speed can lead to dangerous situations, as higher speeds leave less time to react, increasing the risk of losing control or colliding with the hazard. Ignoring the hazard altogether can be reckless, as it can lead to accidents or damage to the vehicle. While calling for assistance might be necessary in certain situations, it is not the immediate response when faced with an immediate threat on the road. Reducing speed and maneuvering is the best first step to ensure the driver's and passengers' safety.