Braking In Emergencies; Power Steering; Steering Tips - Chevrolet 1999 Lumina Owner's Manual

Braking in Emergencies

At some time, nearly every driver gets into a situation
that requires hard braking.
-
If you have anti lock, you can steer and brake at the
same time. However, if you don't have anti
--
first reaction to hit the brake pedal hard and hold it
--
down may be the wrong thing to do. Your wheels can
stop rolling. Once they do, the vehicle can't respond to
your steering. Momentum will carry it in whatever
direction it was headed when the wheels stopped rolling.
That could be off the road, into the very thing you were
trying to avoid, or into traffic.
-
If you don't have 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.
In an emergency, you will probably want to squeeze the
brakes hard without locking the wheels. If you hear or
feel the wheels sliding, ease off the brake pedal. This
will help you retain steering control. (If you do have
-
anti lock, it's different: see "Anti
the Index.)
In many emergencies, steering can help you more than
even the very best braking.
4-10
-
lock, your
-
Lock Brakes" in
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.
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