1996 Pontiac Sunfire Owner's Manual - Page 160

Steering in Emergencies There are times when steering can be more effective than br&ng. For example, you L-ome over a hill and find a truck stopped in your lane, ora 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 evasiveaction -- steering around the problem. Your Pontiac can perform very well in emergencies like these. First apply your brakes. (See "Braking in Emergencies" earlier in this section.) It is better to remove as much speed as you can from a possible collision. Then steer around the problem, to the left or rightdepending on the space available. An emergency like thisrequires close attentionand a quick decision. If you are holding the steering wheel at the recommended 9 and 3 o'clock positions, 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. The fact that such emergency situations are always possible is a good reason to practice defensive drivingat all times and wear safety belts properly. 4-11