Rubbernecking is dangerous because of distracted driving and because rubbernecking drivers _________.

• A. Honk to warn them
• B. Stop abruptly
• C. Often steer in the direction they are looking
• D. Turn on cruise control

Answer: (C)

Where you look determines how you steer, and rubbernecking lets the gaze control your steering. When a driver glances away from the road to look at something off to the side, the hand–eye–brain coordination that guides the vehicle can cause input to the steering wheel in that same direction. That means the car may begin to drift toward where the driver is looking, creating a lane deviation or even crossing lane lines. This makes the road environment unpredictable for others and raises the risk of a crash for everyone nearby, especially at higher speeds.

The other ideas aren’t about the driving action that creates the danger. Honking to warn others isn’t a behavior of the rubbernecking driver itself and doesn’t address the vehicle control issue. Stopping abruptly isn’t the typical consequence of rubbernecking, and turning on cruise control has no relevance to the distraction or steering tendency caused by looking away. The key hazard is the tendency to steer in the direction of the gaze, which is why that option is the best fit.