Hazard Avoidance, Emergency Braking, and Swerving
What this domain tests
Hazard avoidance, emergency braking, and swerving tests your ability to see a problem early and choose one response. Kansas favors questions about a car pulling out, a sudden stop, or a surface hazard.
SEE
Search, Evaluate, Execute. Search ahead and to the sides; evaluate traction, space, and the likely move of other drivers; execute one action at a time.
Emergency braking
On a straight, upright bike, apply both brakes firmly and progressively. The front brake does most of the work; do not stab it. Keep the bike upright and look for an escape path. If the front wheel locks, release the front brake briefly and reapply.
Swerving
Swerve around an obstacle when braking will not stop you in time. Press the grip on the side you want to go. Do not brake and swerve at the same time; the tires need traction for one task. After the swerve, straighten and brake if needed.
Worked example
A car pulls out from a side street about 40 feet ahead. The rider cannot stop in time, so the rider swerves right, stays off the brakes during the swerve, then brakes after clearing the car. Reasoning: combining a hard brake and a swerve can overload the front tire; separating the actions preserves control.
Traps that cost marks
Target fixation on the hazard; grabbing the front brake in a panic; braking while swerving; swerving into oncoming traffic; assuming ABS removes the need for smooth inputs.