Steering In Emergencies - GMC 1999 Sierra 1500 Pickup Owner's Manual

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, but not enough to lock your front wheels. 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. You must then be prepared to steer
back to your original lane and then brake to a controlled stop.
Depending on your speed, this can be rather violent for an unprepared driver.
This is one of the reasons driving experts recommend that you use your
safety belts and keep both hands on the steering wheel.
K2218
The fact that such emergency situations are always possible is a good reason
to practice defensive driving at all times.
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