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Braking in Emergencies
At some time, nearly every driver gets into a situation that requires hard
braking.
The four-wheel anti-lock system lets you steer and brake at the same time.
If 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, unless you have four-wheel anti-lock, 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.
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 eurves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the "drrver lost control" accidents mentit-
~~- -- - -~
-1-3
news happen
on curves. Here's why:
bxperienced 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. Unless you have four-wheel anti-lock
brakes, adding the hard braking can demand too much
of those places. You
can lose control.
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