Which evasive action is appropriate when facing a stopped vehicle in a multi-lane roadway during an emergency response?

• A. Brake to reduce speed as you pass on the left side of the stop vehicle
• B. Swerve into the opposite lane to avoid the vehicle
• C. Accelerate to pass quickly on the right
• D. Brake and stop in your lane before the stopped vehicle

Answer: (A)

When you encounter a stopped vehicle in a multi-lane roadway during an emergency response, your priority is to slow down and create safe passage for everyone involved. The best action is to brake to reduce speed and pass on the left side of the stopped vehicle. Slowing down gives you more reaction time if the vehicle or responders move, or if another hazard appears, and it reduces the risk of a crash. Passing on the left aligns with how traffic typically flows in a right-hand traffic system and keeps you in a safer, more visible position with more room to clear the stopped vehicle safely.

Swerving into the opposite lane or accelerating to pass on the right introduce severe collision risks with oncoming traffic and often violate traffic safety rules in an emergency scene. Stopping in your own lane before the stopped vehicle can leave you blocking traffic and creates a new hazard for following vehicles.