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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 Pontiac can perform very well in emergencies like
these. First apply your brakes. (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 suck emergency situations are always
possible is a good reason to practice defensive driving at
all times and wear safety belts properly.
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