What are collision avoidance maneuvers?

Collision avoidance maneuvers are like when you and your friend both reach for the same toy at the same time, but instead of bumping into each other, you move a little so you can both get it without fighting.

Imagine you're playing tag in the park. You're running toward your friend, but you see another kid coming from the side. If you just keep going straight, you might crash into them! So, you change direction or slow down, that’s a collision avoidance maneuver. It's like saying, “Hey, I’ll take the other path so we can both keep playing.”

When cars are on the road and they see another car coming too close, they do something similar. A driver might sway to the side or speed up a bit, just like you moving around the toy or changing paths during tag.

Sometimes, planes use collision avoidance maneuvers too! If two planes are flying too close together, one of them will turn slightly or change altitude, giving both planes more room to fly safely, kind of like how you and your friend might step aside so you can both grab that same toy.