What should you do if you encounter a hazard while driving?

When encountering a hazard while driving, the appropriate action is to slow down and navigate carefully. This approach allows you to maintain greater control of your vehicle, giving you more time to assess the situation and respond accordingly. Slowing down is crucial because it enhances your ability to react to unexpected changes in the environment, such as pedestrians, road debris, or other vehicles behaving erratically.

Navigating carefully ensures that you are observant and can make informed decisions about how to maneuver around the hazard. It promotes safety not only for yourself but also for others on the road, as sudden or reckless actions can lead to accidents.

In contrast, ignoring the hazard could lead to serious consequences, as you may collide with whatever the hazard is, causing damage to your vehicle or endangering others. Speeding up might seem like a way to avoid the hazard quickly, but it decreases your control and the time available to react. Changing lanes without signaling is unsafe since it can surprise other drivers and create additional hazards on the road. Thus, the safest and most responsible action is to slow down and carefully assess how to navigate the situation.