Check your mirrors, glance over your shoulder, and
start your left lane change signal before moving out
of
the
right
lane to pass. When you are far enough
ahead
of
the passed vehicle to see its front in your
inside mirror, activate your right lane change signal
and move back into the right lane. (Remember that
your right outside mirror is convex. The vehicle
you
just passed may seem to be farther away from
you
than
it
really is.)
0
Try
not to pass more than one vehicle at a time on
two-lane roads. Reconsider before passing the
next vehicle.
0
Don’t overtake
a
slowly moving vehicle too rapidly.
Even though the brake lamps
are
not flashing, it may
be slowing down or starting to turn.
0
If
you’re being passed, make
it
easy
for
the
following driver to get ahead
of
you. Perhaps you
can ease a little to
the
right.
Loss
of
Control
Let’s
review what driving experts
say
about what
happens when the three control systems (brakes, steering
and acceleration) don’t have enough friction where the
tires
meet the road to
do
what
the driver
has
asked.
In
any
emergency, don’t give
up.
Keep trying to steer
and
constantly seek an escape route or area
of
less danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control
of
the vehicle.
Defensive
drivers
avoid
most
skids
by
taking
reasonable
care suited to existing conditions, and by not
“overdriving” those conditions. But skids are
always possible.
The three types of skids correspond
to
your Pontiac’s
three
control systems. In the braking skid, your wheels
aren’t rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, too
much speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip and
lose cornering force. And in
the
acceleration skid, too
much
throttle
causes the driving wheels to spin.
A cornering skid
is
best handled by easing
your
foot off
the accelerator pedal.
If
you
have the traction control system, remember:
It
helps avoid only
the
acceleration
skid.
4-14
To Next Page
Loading...
Need help?
General
