Emergency braking, swerving and skids

Key points

1. With ABS, press the brake pedal and keep applying pressure; ABS works only while you keep pressing.

   Source: Handbook p. 34

   “Drivers should press on the brake pedal and keep applying pressure. ABS will work only if the driver keeps the pressure on the brake pedal.”
   New Hampshire Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 34

2. When swerving, steer where you want to go while avoiding other traffic, but never swerve to the left to avoid a crash.

   Source: Handbook p. 34

   “Steer in the direction they want to go, but try to avoid other traffic never swerve to the left to avoid a crash.”
   New Hampshire Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 34

3. Sometimes you must speed up to avoid being hit from behind or from the side.

   Source: Handbook p. 34

   “It may be necessary for a driver to accelerate to avoid a collision.”
   New Hampshire Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 34

4. In a skid, ease off the accelerator and steer in the direction the rear of the vehicle is sliding.

   Source: Handbook p. 34

   “Ease up on the accelerator. Steer in the direction that the rear of the vehicle is sliding.”
   New Hampshire Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 34

5. Once the skid stops, straighten the front wheels and steer back to your original direction.

   Source: Handbook p. 34

   “Once the vehicle stops skidding, straighten the front wheels and steer back in the original direction of travel.”
   New Hampshire Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 34

6. If your wheels drop off the pavement, do not panic steer back; slow down gradually and return when safe.

   Source: Handbook p. 34

   “If the vehicle leaves the paved road surface, drivers should slow down gradually and turn back onto the pavement when it is safe to do so.”
   New Hampshire Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 34

3 questions from the New Hampshire practice test

1. 1. How should a New Hampshire driver use the brake pedal in a vehicle equipped with ABS during an emergency stop?

   1. Press once and release
   2. Pump the pedal rapidly
   3. Press on the pedal and keep applying pressure; vibration and clicking are normal
   4. Use the parking brake instead
   Show answer

   Press on the pedal and keep applying pressure; vibration and clicking are normal. Vehicles with an anti-lock braking system let a driver stop without skidding and keep steering control, but only if the driver presses on the brake pedal and keeps applying pressure. ABS works only while pressure stays on the pedal. The driver may feel the pedal vibrate and hear a clicking noise, which is normal and not a reason to let up. Pumping is an old technique for vehicles without ABS; check the owner's manual for those.

2. 2. When swerving to avoid a vehicle suddenly approaching from the opposite direction, which direction does the New Hampshire manual say never to swerve?

   1. To the right
   2. Toward the shoulder
   3. To the left
   4. Back into your own lane
   Show answer

   To the left. Swerving means quickly steering around a problem. The manual says to keep a good grip with both hands, steer in the direction you want to go while avoiding other traffic, and never swerve to the left to avoid a crash, because the left puts you into the oncoming lane the other vehicle came from. Once the problem clears, steer in the opposite direction to straighten out and regain control. Accelerating may also be needed to avoid being hit from behind or the side.

3. 3. Your vehicle begins to skid on a New Hampshire road. Which way should you steer?

   1. Toward the shoulder
   2. Opposite the direction the rear is sliding
   3. Straight ahead while braking hard
   4. In the direction the rear of the vehicle is sliding
   Show answer

   In the direction the rear of the vehicle is sliding. Skidding is caused by traveling too fast for conditions, stopping too suddenly, or tires that can no longer grip the road. If the vehicle begins to skid, ease up on the accelerator and steer in the direction that the rear of the vehicle is sliding, which lets the vehicle go straight instead of sideways. Be ready to steer the other way if it swerves back, and once the skid stops, straighten the wheels and steer in the original direction. Hard braking makes a skid worse.

Source: the New Hampshire Driver's Manual, Section 10: Driving Emergencies. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.