1993 Pontiac Grand Am Owner's Manual - Page 138

Speed limit signs near curves warn that you should adjust your speed. Of on course, the posted speeds are based 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 enter you the curve, while your front wheelsare 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. When you drive into a curve at night, it's harder to see the road ahead of you because it bends away 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 effective than braking. For example, you come overa hill and finda 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 Pontiac can perform very wellin 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 leftor right depending on the space available. An emergency like this requiresclose attention and a quick decision. If you are holding the steering wheel at the recommended 9 and 3 o'clock positions, more 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. You must then be preparedto steer back to your originallane and then brake toa controlled stop. Depending on yourspeed, this can be rather violent for an unprepared driver. This is oneof the reasons driving experts recommend thatyou use your safety belts and keep both hands on the steering wheel. The fact that such emergency situations are always possible isa good reason to practice defensive driving at all times.