Off Road Recovery

If you are involved in a situation where driving off the road is your only option of avoiding a collision, or you have driven off the shoulder, follow the steps listed below to return to the roadway:

1. Hold the steering wheel firmly (on the top) half with both hands. The greater the drop-off between roadway and shoulder, the greater amount of steering control you need. Keep your vehicle heading straight toward your target.
2. Ease up on the accelerator and all the vehicle to slow down gradually. Avoid braking, if possible.
3. Position your vehicle so it straddles the roadway edge.
4. Select a place to return to the roadway, where the shoulder is nearest the level of the roadway.
5. Check for traffic. Signal, check your blind spot, and return to the roadway.
6. Steer sharply toward the roadway to return. If the drop-off is severe, you might need to slow more and turn very sharply to get back onto the pavement.
7. Counter-steer sharply the instant the front tires touch the roadway. You counter-steer when you steer in the opposite direction.
8. Center the vehicle in the lane closest to where you left the roadway and re-establish your target. Cancel your signal. Accelerate to match the flow of traffic.

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