What is the best course of action if you see a car stopped ahead in your lane and cannot stop in time?

When encountering a stopped vehicle ahead in your lane and realizing you cannot stop in time, steering to the right is the most effective course of action, particularly if the right side of the road is clear. This maneuver allows you to avoid a collision while maintaining control of your vehicle. By moving to the right, you can potentially bypass the obstacle safely while minimizing the risk of a more severe accident.

Choosing to honk the horn may alert other drivers, but it does not provide a physical solution to the imminent collision threat. Braking hard, while it might feel instinctive, could lead to losing control, especially if road conditions are not ideal or if another vehicle is following closely. Steering to the left may not be wise in many situations, as oncoming traffic could pose a serious danger. Therefore, steering to the right prioritizes safety and quick thinking in emergency driving scenarios.