You are driving on a dual carriageway and need to slow down quickly due to a hazard. What should you do?

When faced with a sudden hazard on a dual carriageway, switching on your hazard lights is the appropriate action to take. This serves as a clear signal to other drivers that you are experiencing an emergency situation or are about to make an unusual maneuver, such as slowing down quickly. It increases awareness and can help prevent collisions, as other road users will recognize that something unusual is occurring ahead.

Turning off your headlights would reduce your visibility to other drivers, which would increase the risk of an accident, especially if it is dark or visibility is poor. Accelerating to pass the hazard may seem like a quick solution, but it can be dangerous as it puts you and others at risk if the hazard requires sudden stopping or avoidance. Changing lanes immediately without a proper assessment of the situation and ensuring it is safe can lead to further hazards, as other vehicles might not expect a sudden lane change. Therefore, activating hazard lights is the safest and most responsible choice in this scenario.