1996 Pontiac Bonneville Owner's Manual - Page 177

Steering Tips Driving on Curves It's important to take curves a reasonable speed. at Speed limit signs near curves warn that you should Of A lot of the "driver lost control" accidents mentioned on adjust your speed. course, the posted speeds are based on good weather and road conditions. Under less the news happen on curves. Here's why: favorable conditions you'll want to slower. go Experienced driver or beginner, each of is subject to us If you need to reduce your speed you approach a as the same laws physics when driving on curves. of The traction of the tires against the road surface makes it curve, do it before you enter thecurve, while your front possible for the vehicle to change path when you turn wheels are straight ahead. its the front wheels. there's no traction, inertia will keep Try to adjust your speed you can "drive" through If so the vehiclegoing in the same direction. If you've ever the curve. Maintain a reasonable, steady spied. Wait to tried to steera vehicle on wet ice, you'll understand this. accelerate until you out of the curve, and then are accelerate gently into the straightaway. The tractionyou can get in a curve depends on the condition of your tires and the road surface, the angle at Steering in Emergencies which the curve banked, and your speed. While you're is There are times when steering can be more effective than in a curve, speed is the one factor can control. you braking. For example, you come overhal and find a i l Suppose you're steering through a sharp curve. Then you truck stoppedin your lane, or a car suddenly pulls out suddenly accelerate. Both control systems steering and -from nowhere, or a child darts out between parked from acceleration -- have to do their work where thetires meet cars and stops right fi-ont of you. You can avoid these in the road. Unless you have traction control and the system problems by braking -- if you can stopin time. But is on, adding sudden acceleration can demand too the sometimes you can't; there isn't room. That's the time for much of those places. You can lose control. evasive action-- steering aroundthe problem. do on What should you if this ever happens? Ease up the accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the way you want it to go, and slow down. 4-10