When passing another vehicle on a two-lane road and your engine misses causing a drop in speed, what should you do first?

• A. Return to your lane
• B. Brake heavily
• C. Increase speed to finish the pass
• D. Move to the shoulder

Answer: (A)

When you’re passing on a two-lane road and your engine misses, the first thing to do is steer back into your lane. A passing maneuver relies on sufficient distance and clear space in the oncoming lane; a drop in speed due to the engine misfire makes that space unreliable. Returning to your lane as soon as you can do so safely prevents a head-on collision with oncoming traffic and gives you time to reassess and resume the pass only when it’s safe. Braking heavily in the passing lane or trying to accelerate to finish the pass increases the risk of losing control or colliding with the vehicle you’re passing or with oncoming traffic. Moving to the shoulder isn’t the first option while still in the middle of a pass; it should only be considered if you cannot safely re-enter your lane or pull off in a safe area.