0
Check your mirrors, glance over your shoulder, and
start your left lane change signal before moving out
of
the right lane to pass. When you are far enough
ahead
of
the passed vehicle to see its front in your
inside mirror, activate your right lane change signal
and move back into the right lane. (Remember that
your right outside mirror is convex. The vehicle
you
just passed may seem
to
be farther away from you
than it really
is.)
Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time
on two-lane roads. Reconsider before passing the
next vehicle.
Don’t overtake a slowly moving vehicle too rapidly.
Even though the brake lamps are not flashing, it may
be slowing down or starting to turn.
following driver to get ahead of you. Perhaps
you
can ease a little
to
the right.
0
If
you’re being passed, make
it
easy for the
Loss
of
Control
Let’s review what driving experts say about what
happens when the three control systems (brakes, steering
and acceleration) don’t have enough friction where the
tires meet the road to do what the driver has asked.
In any emergency, don’t give up. Keep trying to steer and
constantly seek an escape route or area of less danger.
Skidding
In
a
skid,
a
driver can lose control
of
the vehicle.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasoname
care suited
to
existing conditions, and by not “overdriving”
those conditions. But skids are always possible.
The three types
of
skids correspond to your vehicle’s
three control systems. In the braking skid, your wheels
aren’t rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, too
much speed or steering
in
a curve causes tires to slip and
lose cornering force. And in the acceleration skid, too
much throttle causes the driving wheels to spin.
A
cornering skid and an acceleration
skid
are best
handled by easing your foot off
the
accelerator pedal.
If
your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot
off
the
accelerator pedal and quickly steer
the
way you want the
vehicle to go.
If
you start steering quickly enough, your
vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for a
second skid
if
it occurs.
4-13
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