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.
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.
jl
:-x
lnim%
I.
,~
,’
P
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.
4-8
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