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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.Geo can perronn very well in emergencies like
these. First apply your brakes
--
but, unless you have
anti-lock, not enough to lock your wheels. (See
"Braking in Emergencies" earlier in 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.
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.
The fact that such emergency situations are always
possible is a good reason 'to practice defensive driving at
all times and wear safety belts properly.
4-10
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