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.
Suppose you’re steering through a sharp curve. Then you
suddenly accelerate. 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.
The same thing can happen
if
you’re steering through a
sharp curve and you suddenly accelerate. Those two
control systems
-
steering and acceleration
-
can
overwhelm those places where the tires meet the road
and make you lose control. See Full-Range Traction
Control System
on
page
4-9
or Traction Control System
(TCS)
on
page
4-
IO.
What should you do
if
this ever happens? Ease up on
the brake or accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the way
you want it to
go,
and slow down.
Speed limit signs near curves warn that you should
adjust your speed. Of course, the posted speeds
are based on good weather and road conditions. Under
less favorable conditions you’ll want to go slower.
4-1
2
To Next Page