If you miss an exit on the highway, what is the recommended action?

• A. Stop and back up on the shoulder.
• B. Do not stop or back up; continue to the next exit and safely return.
• C. Turn around in a lane of traffic.
• D. Stop in the lane and wait.

Answer: (B)

The safe approach here is to keep moving to the next exit and return to your route from there. Stopping or backing up on the shoulder is risky because the shoulder is meant for emergencies, and vehicles may not expect someone stopped there. Turning around in a traffic lane is extremely dangerous at highway speeds and can cause a severe crash. Stopping in a lane and waiting blocks traffic and creates a high likelihood of being struck by fast-moving vehicles.

Continuing to the next exit and then safely rerouting allows you to rejoin your intended path without disrupting traffic or putting yourself and others in danger. If you realize you’ve missed an exit, plan to exit at the next available opportunity and use proper routes to come back.