1998 Chevrolet Express Van Owner's Manual - Page 172

1998 Chevrolet Express Van Manual

Page 172 highlights

Speed Sensitive Steering Your vehicle is equipped with a speed sensitive steering system. This system automatically varies the amount of to steering effort in proportion your vehicle speed. The required steering effort increases as your speed increases. 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 meetthe road. Adding the sudden acceleration can demand too much of those places. You can lose control. What should you do if this ever happens? Ease up on the accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the way you wantit 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. 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 whenyou 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 the on condition of your tires andthe 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. 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 thecurve, and then accelerate gently into the straightaway.

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Speed
Sensitive
Steering
Your
vehicle
is
equipped
with
a
speed
sensitive
steering
system.
This
system
automatically
varies
the
amount
of
steering
effort
in
proportion
to
your
vehicle
speed.
The
required
steering
effort
increases
as
your
speed
increases.
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
whenyou 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.
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.