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.
See
Traction Assist System (TAS) on page
4-9.
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.
See
Braking on page
4-6.
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.
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