1995 Chevrolet Lumina Owner's Manual - Page 138

There are times when steering be more effective can than braking. For example, you come over a hill and find a truck stopped your lane, or a car suddenly pulls in out from nowhere, or a child darts out from between parked cars and stops right in front you. You can of The same thing can happen if you're steering through a avoid these problems by braking if you can stopin -sharp curve and you suddenly accelerate. Those two time. But sometimes youcan't; there isn't room. That's control systems -- steering and acceleration can -the time for evasive action -- steering around the overwhelm those places where the tires meet the road problem. and make you control. lose Your Chevrolet can perform very well in emergencies if What should you do this ever happens? Ease up on the like these. First apply your brakes but, unless you -brake or accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the way you have anti-lock, not enough to lock your wheels. (See want it to go, and slow down. "Braking in Emergencies'' earlierin this section.) It is better to remove as much speed you can from a as Speed limit signs near curves warn that you should possible collision. Then steer around the problem, to the adjust your speed. course, the posted speeds are Of left or right depending the space available. on based on good weather and road conditions. Under less favorable conditions you'll want to go slower. An emergency like requires close attention and a this quick decision.If you are holding the steering wheel at If you need to reduce your speedyou approach a as curve, doit before you enter the curve, while your front the recommended9 and 3 o'clock positions, you can turn it a full 180 degrees very quickly without removing wheels are straight ahead. either hand. But you have to fast, steer quickly, and act Try to adjust your speed you can "drive" through the just as quickly straightenthe wheel once you have so curve. Maintain a reasonable, steady speed. Wait to avoided the object. accelerate until you are out the curve, and then of accelerate gently into the straightaway. ppose you're steering through a sharp curve.. Then you suddenly applythe brakes. Both control systems -steering and braking-- have to do their work where the tires meet the road. Unless you have four-wheel anti-lock brakes, adding the hard braking can demand too muchof those places. You can lose control. I Steering in Emergencies 4-10