If a vehicle leaves the road, what should the driver try to do before returning to the highway?

The appropriate action for a driver who has left the road is to stop before attempting to return to the highway. This allows the driver to assess the situation safely, ensuring that the vehicle is in a position to re-enter the roadway without risking loss of control or endangering others.

Stopping allows the driver to check for oncoming traffic and ensures that conditions are safe for merging back onto the highway. It provides time to gauge the road's surface and any obstacles that may be present, reducing the likelihood of accidents upon re-entry.

Accelerating back onto the road can lead to loss of control, especially if the vehicle is on an uneven surface or if there is incoming traffic. Turning sharply to regain traction may also create instability, risking a rollover or collision. Waiting for other vehicles to pass can be a good practice, but it might also create a delay that impacts road safety if other vehicles do not clear the area efficiently. Therefore, stopping first is the safest approach in this scenario.