There’s a really good reason to keep as much clear space as possible, around your vehicle when you’re driving.  You never know when you’ll need it.

There’s a really good reason to always know how much space you’ve got around you when you’re driving.  You may need that space – very quickly!

You may need that space if you suddenly choose to Panic Brake or Panic Steer.

Strange things can happen when we’re boogying down the highways and byways.  Strange things can happen very quickly.

The car in front of you blows a tire and suddenly goes sideways, at seventy miles an hour.  Maybe it decides to suddenly lock brakes in front of you because the driver realizes he’s missing his turnoff and he hasn’t got a clue you’re behind him.  Ever happen?

Maybe that car suddenly swerves out of its lane directly into yours for the same reason, with the brake lights glowing.

That car “nosing” out of the side street suddenly decides to come on out – thirty feet in front of you when you’re doing forty.

You suddenly get cut off by a car and it suddenly hits the brakes because of something ahead of it that it didn’t quite factor in.  (Or maybe it’s just tripping the brake lights to scare the bejesus out of you, because you were going too slow in the passing lane.)

Yup, thousands of things can suddenly happen directly in front of you at the least suspecting moment and when they do, you’re going to have to take immediate evasive action to avoid the bruises and contusions.

When a sudden emergency materializes in front of you and you’re moving at any speed, you really only have three options.  You can panic brake.  You can panic steer, or as an absolutely last resort, you can try to do both.  You’ve got to make the choice and you may only have nanoseconds to make it in.  You can add a few of those nanoseconds if you’ve subconsciously already set up an escape and those extra nanoseconds can mean the difference between clear sailing or no more Monday mornings.

When suddenly faced with such an untimely event, your first option will almost always be the brakes.  If you instantly determine that you will have room to stop, or if you are crowded by cars on both sides of you, it very well may be your only option.  Best of luck!

Many drivers, however, will never consider the second option.  Steer around it.  If you realize that there’s simply no way you’ll be able to avoid the crash by braking, this may quickly become your best option.  Now is when really “knowing your machine” will come in to play.  Knowing how your particular make and model will react under panic steering will definitely give you the edge.  Will it get loose and go sideways?  How will it recover?  How do I recover it?  These are the driving skills that can keep you alive if you have them – and make that second option far more appealing.

The third option is to both brake and steer.  Hmm.  This is where the skill part really kicks in.  Braking hard while steering will almost certainly loosen up the car and put it into a skid.  If you know that, a controlled skid might work for you.  This driver has avoided more than one crunch by intentionally going sideways, but you’d better have practiced it before you try it.

That third option will also become much more appealing if your chosen buggy happens to have Anti-lock Braking system or ABS for short.  With ABS you can more safely steer while panic braking.  If your vehicle happens to be so endowed, take it to a lonely, safe place and test it out.  Learn how it can help you – before you really need it!

Some final thoughts about that emergency stop or steer decision:

• Know what’s around you – before you have to react.  Who’s behind you?  If you panic brake, are they going to rear end you?

• Decide whether to Brake or Steer.  Can you safely come to an emergency stop?  Do you have open space to steer around the problem? 

• Decide if you can Brake and Steer.  Do you need to?

• Finally, look where you want to go – not at the obstruction.  If you decide to steer around, focus on the clear spot.  Focus on where you want to be, not the obstruction.  Most professional drivers know that our bodies and brains have an uncanny ability to take us to where we’re looking at.  If you focus on the obstruction, you are likely going to drive straight into it.  If you focus on where you need to be, your natural reactions will more likely take you there.  So instantly look for an opening and keep your eyes focused on the opening, not the obstruction.

Should I panic Brake or Panic Steer?  Only you will be able to decide, but just remember two things.  The greater the distance between you and the vehicles in front of you, beside you and behind you, the better your chances of survival.  And knowing what’s around you before you have to make that panic decision may very well save your life.