1997 Pontiac Sunfire Owner's Manual - Page 175

1997 Pontiac Sunfire Manual

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Braking in Emergencies With anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the same time. In many emergencies, steering can help you more than even the very best braking. The traction you can get in a curve depends on the 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 the one factor you can control. is Steering Power Steering If you lose power steering assist because the engine stops or the system is not functioning, you can steer but it will take much more effort. Suppose you're steering through asharp curve. Then you suddenly accelerate. Bothcontrol 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. Refer to "Enhanced Traction System" in the Index. 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 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: 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. 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 thevehicle to change its path when you turn the frontwheels. If there's no traction, inertia will keep the vehicle going in the sarne direction. If you've ever tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you'll understand this. If you need toreduce 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. 4-11

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Braking
in
Emergencies
With anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the same
time. In many emergencies, steering can help you more
than even the very best braking.
Steering
Power
Steering
If
you lose power steering assist because the engine
stops or the system is not functioning,
you
can steer but
it will take much more effort.
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 when
you
turn
the
front wheels.
If
there’s no traction, inertia will keep
the vehicle going in the
sarne 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.
Refer to
“Enhanced
Traction System” in
the
Index.
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.
4-11