Driving SafelyQuestion 50 of 60
If your trailer begins to swing out in a jackknife, what should you generally do?
a.Brake harder to stop the swing
b.Recognize it early by watching your mirrors and release the brakes if it is a braking-induced skid to regain traction
c.Turn the steering wheel sharply toward the skid
d.Accelerate hard to straighten it
Explanation
If the trailer wheels lock and the trailer starts to swing, you should recognize it early through your mirrors and, if braking caused it, ease off the brakes so the trailer wheels can regain traction and roll straight again. Continuing to brake hard keeps the wheels locked and worsens the skid. Early detection is essential because a full jackknife is hard to correct.
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Related questions on this topic
- What is the main cause of trailer rollover in combination vehicles?
- How can you reduce the risk of rollover when loading a trailer?
- What causes a trailer to swing out and jackknife (trailer skid)?
- Why do combination vehicles need a longer following distance than smaller vehicles?
- At 50 mph in a 60-foot combination vehicle, about how many seconds of following distance should you keep?
- Why are combination vehicles more likely to roll over than they might appear?
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