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
chlld
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 Geo can perform very well in emergencies
like
these.
First
apply your
brakes
--
but, unless you have
anti-lock, not
enough
to lock your wheels. (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 such emergency situations
are
always
possible
is
a
good
reason to practice defensive driving at
all times and
wear
safety belts properly.
4-10
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