2003 Pontiac Montana Owner's Manual - Page 289

2003 Pontiac Montana Manual

Page 289 highlights

The same thing can happenif you're steering through a sharp curve and you suddenlyaccelerate. Those two control systems - steering and acceleration - can overwhelm those places where the tires meet the road and make you lose control. See Traction Control System (TCS) on page 4-9. What should you do if this ever happens? Ease up on the brake or 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. 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 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 vehicle can perform very well in emergencies like these. First apply your brakes. See Braking on page 4-6. It is better to remove as much speed as you can from a possible collision. Then steer around the problem, to the left or right depending on the space available. 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. 4-1 2

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The same thing can
happen
if
you’re steering through a
sharp curve and you
suddenlyaccelerate. Those
two
control systems
-
steering and acceleration
-
can
overwhelm those places where the tires meet the road
and make you lose control. See
Traction Control System
(TCS)
on page
4-9.
What should you
do
if
this ever happens?
Ease
up
on
the brake or 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.
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
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 vehicle can perform very well in emergencies
like
these. First apply your brakes.
See
Braking
on
page
4-6.
It is better to remove
as
much
speed as you
can
from
a
possible collision.
Then
steer around
the problem, to the
left or
right
depending
on
the
space available.
4-1
2