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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.
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.
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