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Suppose you're steering through a sharp curve. Then you
suddenly accelerate. Both control systems
--
steering and
acceleration -- have to do their work where the tires meet
the road. Adding the sudden acceleration can demand too
much of those places. You can lose control.
What should
YOLI
do if this ever happens'? Ease up on the
accelerator pedal. steer the vehicle the way you want
it
to go. and slow down.
Speed limit signs near curves warn that you should
adjust your speed. Of course. the posted speeds are
based on good weather and road conditions. Under less
favorable conditions you'll want to go slower.
I f y o u need
t o
reduce your speed as you approach
it
curve. do
it
befhre you enter the curve, while your front
wheels
are straight ahead.
Try
t o
adjust your speed so you can "drive" through the
CLII-ut.
klaintain
;I
reasonable, steady speed. Wait to
acwlcrate
llntil
> . o u
are
out of the curve. and then
accclcrate
gcntlv i n t o
the straightaway.
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 vehicle can perform very well in emergencies like
these. First apply your brakes. (See "Braking in
Emergencies" earlier i n this section.)
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.
3-
1 0
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