1993 Oldsmobile Achieva Owner's Manual - Page 151

An emergency likethis requires close attention and a quick decision. you If Steering in Emergencies are holding the steering wheelat the If you need to reduce your speed you There are times when steering can be as recommended 9 and 3 o'clock positions, approach a curve,do it before you enter more effective than braking. For the curve, while your front wheels are example, you come over a hill and find a you can turn it a full 180 degrees very quickly without removing either hand. straight ahead. truck stopped in your lane, or a car But you have to act fast, steer quickly, suddenly pulls out from nowhere,or a Try to adjust your speed you can so and just as quickly straightenthe wheel child darts out from between parked "drive" through the curve. Maintain a cars and stops right in front you. You once you have avoided the object. You of reasonable, steady speed. Wait to must then be prepared to steer back to can avoid these problemsby braking-if accelerate untilyou are out of the curve, you can stop in time. But sometimes you your original lane and then brake to a and then accelerate gently into the can't; there isn't room. That's the time controlled stop. straightaway. Depending on yourspeed, this can be for evasive action-steering around the When you drive into a curve at night, problem. rather violent foran unprepared driver. it's harder to see the road ahead you of This is one of the reasons driving because it bends away from the straight Your Oldsmobile can perform very well experts recommend that you use your in emergencies like these.First apply beams of your lights. This is one good safety belts and keep both hands on the your brakes. It is better to remove as reason to drive slower. much speed as you can from a possible steering wheel. The fact that such emergency situations collision. Then steer around the are always possible is a good reason to problem, to the left or right depending practice defensive drivingat a l times. l on the space available. 149