1993 Pontiac Bonneville Owner's Manual - Page 162

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 factoryou can control. Suppose you're steering through asharp curve. Then you suddenly accelerate. Those two control systems-steering and acceleration-can overwhelm those places where the tires meet the road and make you lose control. What should you do if this ever happens? Let up on the brake or accelerator pedal, steer the vehiclethe 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 favorableconditions you'll want to go slower. If you need to reduce your speed you as 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 untilyou are out of the curve, and then accelerate gently into the straightaway. When you drive into a curve at night, it's harder to see the road ahead of you because it bendsaway from the straight beams of your lights. This is one good reason to drive slower. 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 fromnowhere, 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 Pontiac can perform very well in emergencies like these. First apply your brakes. It is better to removeas much speed as you can from a possible collision. Then steer around the problem, to the left or right depending on the space available. 161