1998 Pontiac Grand Am Owner's Manual - Page 169

Steering in Emergencies There are times when steering be more effective can than braking. For example, you come a hill and over in a find a truck stopped your lane, or car suddenly pulls out from nowhere, or a childdarts out from between of parked cars and stops right in front you. You can braking -- if you can stopin avoid these problems by time. But sometimes you can't; there isn't room. That's the time evasive action-- steering around for the problem. Y u vehicle can perform very well in emergencies like or these. First apply your brakes. (See "Braking in Emergencies" earlier in this section.) Itis better to remove as much speedas you can from a possible to collision. Thensteer around the problem, the leftor right dependingon the space available. An emergency liket i requires close attention and a hs quick decision.If you are holding the steering wheelat 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 act fast, steer quickly, and to the just as quickly straighten wheel once you have avoided the object. The fact that such emergency situations are always possible is a good reason to practice defensive driving at all times and wear safety belts properly. 4112