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Your Driving and the Road
that happens, release enough pressure on
the brakes to get the wheels rolling again
so that you can steer.
With the four-wheel drive option, you
won't have anti-lock braking when you
shift into four-wheel drive. But
you
will
have regular braking. When you shift
back into two-wheel drive, you will have
anti-lock again.
Braking in Emergencies
At some time, nearly every driver gets
into a situation that requires hard braking.
You have the rear-wheel anti-lock braking
system. Your front wheels can stop rolling
when you brake
very
hard. Once they do,
the vehicle can't respond to your steering.
Momentum will carry it in whatever
direction it was headed when the front
wheels stopped rolling. That could be off
the road, into the very thing you were
trying to avoid, or into traffic.
So, use a "squeeze" braking technique.
This will give you maximum braking
while maintaining steering control. You
do this by pushing on the brake pedal
with steadily increasing pressure. When
you do, it will help maintain steering
control. In many emergencies, steering
can help you more than even the very best
braking.
.
.
. l o 4
Steering
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because
the engine stops or the system is not
functioning, you can steer but it will take
much more effort.
Steering Tips
Driving on Curves
It's important to take curves at a
reasonable speed.
A lot
of the "driver lost control" accidents
mentioned on the news happen on curves.
Here's why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each of
us is subject
to the same laws of physics
when driving on curves. The traction of
the tires against the road surface makes
it
possible for the vehicle to change its path
when you turn the front wheels. If there's
no traction, inertia will keep the vehicle
going in the same direction. If you've
ever tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice,
you'll understand this.
The traction you can get in a curve
depends on the condition of your tires and
the road surface, the angle at which the
curve is banked, and your speed. While
you're in a curve, speed is the one factor
you can control.
Suppose you're steering through a sharp
curve. Then you suddenly apply the
brakes. Both control systems
-
steering
and braking
-
have to do their work
where the tires meet the road. Adding the
hard braking can demand too much at
those places. You can lose control.
The same thing can happen if you're
steering through a sharp curve and you
suddenly accelerate. Those two control
systems
-
steering and acceleration
-
can overwhelm those places where the
tires meet the road and make you lose
control.
What should you do if this ever happens?
Ease up on the brake or 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.
If you need to reduce your speed as you
approach a curve, do
it
before you enter
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