1995 Chevrolet S10 Pickup Owner's Manual - Page 141

surface makes it possible for the vehicle to change its path when you ,turn the front wheels. If there'sno 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 canget in a curve depends on the condition of your tires and the road surface, the angle at which thecurve 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 apply the 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 candemand too much of those places. You can lose control. The samething can happen if you're steering through a sharp curve and you suddenly accelerate. Those two control systems - steering and acceleration - can overwhelm those places where the tires meet the road make you and lose control. What should you do if this ever happens? Ease up on the brakeor accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the way you want it to go, and slow down. Speed limit signs near curves warn that you shouldadjust your speed. Of course, the posted speeds are based on good weather and roadconditions. Under less favorable conditions you'll want to go slower. If you need to reduce your speed as you approach acurve, do it before you enter the curve, while your front wheels are straight ahead. Try to adjust your speed so you can "drive" through thecurve. Maintain a reasonable, steady speed. Wait to accelerate until you are out of the curve, and then accelerate gentlyinto the straightaway. Steering in Emergencies There aretimes when steering can be more effective than braking. For example, you come over a hill and find a truck stopped in your lane, a car or suddenly pulls out fromnowhere, or a child darts out from between parked cars and stops right in frontof 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 theproblem. Your vehicle can perform very well in emergencieslike these. First apply your brakes -but, unless youhave four-wheel anti-lock, not enough to lock your front wheels. 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. 4-8