Question 44 Rules of the Road

The correct answer is D) All of the above. This is the correct answer because the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) and the Inland Navigation Rules require a vessel to slacken speed, stop, or reverse engines if necessary to: 1) allow more time to assess the situation and determine the appropriate action to avoid a collision, 2) be stopped in an appropriate distance to avoid a collision, and 3) ultimately avoid a collision. All three of these reasons are valid and required by the applicable navigation rules. The other answer choices are incorrect because they only address part of the overall requirement to take action to avoid a collision. The regulations require a comprehensive response, not just one specific action.