What should you do if you miss your highway exit?

• A. Do not back up; continue to the next exit and then safely re-enter.
• B. Back up to reach the exit.
• C. Stop on the shoulder and reverse onto the ramp.
• D. Make a U-turn across the median.

Answer: (A)

If you miss a highway exit, you should not try to back up or turn around on the roadway. The safest and most legal move is to continue to the next exit and then re-enter the highway via the proper ramp. Backing up on a highway is highly dangerous because other vehicles are traveling at high speeds and may not see you in time, increasing the risk of a serious crash. Stopping on the shoulder and reversing onto a ramp creates danger from passing traffic, debris, and stalled vehicles, and is generally not a safe or permitted maneuver. U-turns across medians are also unsafe and usually prohibited due to cross-traffic and the difficulty of safely clearing the median. By going to the next exit, you can slow down in a controlled way, follow the exit ramp, and rejoin the highway safely.