1993 Cadillac Seville Owner's Manual - Page 199

A lot of the "driver lost control" accidents mentionedthe news on happen on curves. Here'swhy: Experienced driveror beginner, eachof us is subject to the same laws of physics when driving on curves. traction of the tires againstthe road The surface makes it possible the vehicle to change its path for when you turn the front wheels.If there's no traction, inertia keep the vehicle going will in the same direction.If you've ever triedto steer a vehicle on wet ice, you'll understand this. The traction you can getin a curve depends on condition of your tires the and the road surface, the angle which the curveis banked, and your at speed. While you're incurve, speedis the one factoryou can control. a Suppose you're steering through sharp curve. Then you suddenly a accelerate. Those two control systems-- steering and acceleration can overwhelm -those places where tires meetthe road and make lose control. the you on What shouldyou do if this ever happens? Let up the accelerator pedal, steer the vehiclethe way you want itto go, and slow down. Speed limit signs near curves warnthat you should adjust your speed. Of course, the posted speedsare 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 approach a curve, do it before you you enter the curve, while your front wheels straight ahead. are Try to adjust your speed you can "drive" through curve. Maintaina so the reasonable, steady speed. to accelerate until you are out of the Wait curve, and then accelerate gently the straightaway. into When you driveinto a curve at night, it'sharder to see the road ahead of you because it bends away from the straight beams your lights. This is of one good reasonto drive slower. Steering in Emergencies There are times when steering can more effective than braking. For be example, you come over a hill and find a truck stoppedin your lane,or a car suddenly pulls from nowhere,or a child darts out from between out in parked cars and stops rightfront of you. You can avoidthese problems 185