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 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.
4-11
I
To Next Page
Loading...
Need help?
General
