What is a key guideline if you have to go off the road?

When you find yourself needing to go off the road, a key guideline is to keep one set of wheels on the pavement if possible. This is crucial for maintaining control of the vehicle and minimizing the chances of a complete loss of control. By keeping some wheels on the pavement, you can better manage the vehicle's trajectory and reduce the risk of rolling over or skidding.

This approach also allows for a potentially safer re-entry to the road when the situation allows for it. Both the momentum of the vehicle and the surface friction are better when at least one set of wheels is still on the roadway. This ensures that the driver has better steering control and can begin corrective measures to safely return to the road.

Stopping immediately or braking hard can lead to a loss of control as the vehicle may skid, especially if the surface off the road is soft or uneven. Turning sharply to return to the road can result in oversteering and increased risk of rolling the vehicle over. Accelerating to avoid hazards can also be counterproductive; it can increase the speed at which you leave the roadway, resulting in greater difficulties in regaining control.