What should a driver prioritize when experiencing a road hazard?

When encountering a road hazard, a driver should prioritize managing risk and making timely decisions. This involves assessing the situation carefully and determining the safest course of action. A driver's ability to evaluate potential dangers, such as debris on the road, sudden stops by other vehicles, or adverse weather conditions, is essential for maintaining safety.

By focusing on risk management, a driver can decide to slow down, change lanes, or take other appropriate actions to avoid the hazard. Timely decision-making is equally critical since delaying a response to a hazard could lead to accidents or collisions.

In contrast, attempting to maximize speed to get past the hazard can lead to further danger, as it may prevent adequate response time should the situation change unexpectedly. Ignoring the hazard because of familiarity can be risky, as past experiences may not accurately predict current conditions. Relying on other drivers is also not advisable, as their actions may be unpredictable and may not align with ensuring everyone's safety on the road. Thus, prioritizing risk management and decision-making is the most effective approach for navigating road hazards safely.