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Steering in 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 Cadillac can perform very well in emergencies like these. First apply
your brakes. 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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