1993 Buick Century Owner's Manual - Page 152

Steering Power Steering If you lose power steering assist because engine stops the or the system fails to function, you can steer but itwill take much more effort. tires meet the road. Adding the hard braking can demand too much at those places. can lose control. You The same thing can happenif you're steering througha' sharp curve and you suddenly accelerate. Those two control systems-steering and acceleration-can overwhelm those places where the tires meet the road and make you lose 'control. What should you doif this ever happens? Let up on the way brake or accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the you want it to go, and slow down. Speed limit signs near curveswarn that you should adjust Steering Tips Driving on Curves It's important to take curves ata reasonable speed. A lot of the "driver lost control" accidents mentioned on the news happen on curves. Here's why: of Experienced driver or beginner, each us is subject to the same laws physics when driving on curves. The of traction of the tires against the road surface it makes possible for the vehicle change its path when you turn to the front wheels.If there's no traction, inertia keep will the vehicle goingin the same direction. you've ever If tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you'll understand this. The traction you can get in curve depends on the a condition of your tires and the roadsurhce, the angle at which the curve is banked, and your speed. While you're in a curve, speedis the one factor you can control. Suppose you're steering througha sharp curve. Then you suddenly apply the brakes. Both control systemssteering and braking-have to do their work where the your speed. Of course, the posted speeds are based on good weather and road conditions. Under less favorable conditions you'll wantto 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. T y to adjust your speed so r 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 i t a curve at night, it's harder see no to the road aheadof you because it bends away .from the straight beams of your lights. This is one good reason to drive slower.