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 acceleration
-
have to
do
their work where the tires meet the road. Adding the sudden acceleration
can demand too much of those places.
You
can lose control.
What should you do if this ever happens? Ease up on the 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.
If you need to reduce your speed as you approach a curve,
do
it
before you
enter the curve, while your front wheels are straight ahead.
Try
to adjust your speed
so
you
can
“drive” through the curve. Maintain a
reasonable, steady speed. Wait to accelerate
until
you are out of the curve,
and then accelerate gently into the straightaway.
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 vehicle can perform very well in emergencies like these. First apply
your brakes. 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.
4-8
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