In an emergency, what should you do if you must leave the roadway to drive on the shoulder?

The best course of action in an emergency when you need to leave the roadway and drive on the shoulder is to stop safely before returning to the road, if possible. This approach ensures that you assess the situation adequately without jeopardizing your safety or the safety of others. Coming to a complete stop allows you to check for any oncoming traffic and conditions before re-entering the roadway, minimizing risks of collisions or accidents.

By taking this cautious step, you give yourself time to make a sound judgment about when and how to merge back onto the road safely. It also prevents abrupt movements that could surprise other drivers, ensuring a smoother transition back into traffic.

Other actions, such as accelerating quickly back onto the road, making a U-turn, or changing lanes immediately, could lead to unsafe situations. Rapid re-entry can catch other drivers off guard, and both making a U-turn or changing lanes without proper checks increases the risk of accidents or loss of control.