Chevrolet Spin - Page 144

144 Driving and operating
Braking in emergencies
Everybody has faced a heavy-braking
situation. When it happens, the
vehicle may not follow the direction of
the steering and may follow the wheel
direction before they locked. Your
vehicle may leave the road. Brake
gradually. This method provides you
with maximum braking and steering
control. Press the brake pedal
gradually and harder. In case of an
emergency, you are likely to want to
apply the brakes hard without locking
the wheels. Release the brake pedal
if you feel or hear the wheels drag.
This will help you keep steering
control.
Steering
Emergency steering
In some situations, steering may be
more efficient than braking.
For example, if you get closer to a hill
and find a truck parked in your lane or
if suddenly a vehicle comes into sight
from somewhere or if a child runs
from behind parked vehicles and
stops right in front of you.
You could avoid these problems by
applying the brakes – if it is possible
to stop in time. But sometimes this is
not possible because there is no
room. It is the time for a defensive
action – by steering around the
problem.
First apply the brakes – do not use so
much pressure that the front wheels
lock. With the risk of collision, it is
always advisable to slow down first.
Then, steer around the problem to the
right or to the left depending on the
space available. An emergency
situation, as described above, will
require the driver's full attention and a
quick decision.
If you are holding the steering wheel
as recommended in the nine and
three o'clock position, you could
make a 180º quick turn without taking
the hands off the steering wheel. But
you have to move fast, steer quickly
and then straighten the wheel as soon
as you have overcome the object.
The fact that emergency situations
are always possible is reason enough
to practise defensive driving and use
the safety belts correctly.
Off-road recovery
There could be situations in which the
right side wheels leave the road and
mount the road shoulder. Should the
road shoulder level be a little below
the road, returning would be very
easy. Relieve the accelerator pedal if
there is nothing ahead of you, steer
so that vehicle can return to the road.
You may steer up to a ¼ of a turn so
that the front wheels touch the road
edge. Then turn the steering wheel to
align the vehicle.
1. Road edge.
2. Decelerate.
3. Steer about ¼ of a turn.
4. Resume the straight line.