Steering In Emergencies - Buick 1993 Century Owner's Manual

Steering i n Emergencies
There are times when steering can be more effective than
braking. For example, you come over a hill and find a
truck stopped in your lane, or a car suddenly pulls out
from nowhere, or a child darts out from between parked
cars and stops right in front of you. You can avoid these
problems by braking-if you can stop in time. But
sometimes you can't; there isn't room. That's the time for
evasive action-steering around the problem.
Your Buick can perform very well in emergencies like
these. First apply your brakes, but not enough to lock
your wheels. It is better to remove as much speed as you
can from a possible collision. Then steer around the
problem, to the left or right depending on the space
available.
An
emergency like this requires close attention and a
quick decision. If you are holding the steering wheel at
the recommended 9' and 3 o'clock positions, you can turn
it a full 180 degrees very quickly without removing either
hand. But you have to act fast, steer quickly, and just as
quickly straighten the wheel once you have avoided the
object. You must then be prepared to steer back to your
original lane and then brake to
a
controlled stop.
Depending on your speed, this can be rather violent for
an unprepared driver. This is one of the reasons driving
experts recommend that you use your safety belts and
keep both hands on the steering wheel.
The fact that such emergency situations are always
possible is a good reason to practice defensive driving at
all times.
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