2009 Pontiac Vibe Owner's Manual - Page 156

8-24 Driving and Operating 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 cannot; there is not room. That is the time for evasive action - steering around the problem. Your vehicle can perform very well in emergencies like these. First apply the brakes. See Braking on page 8-19. 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. Off-Road Recovery Your vehicle's right wheels can drop off the edge of a road onto the shoulder while driving. An emergency like this requires close attention and a quick decision. If you are holding the steering wheel at the recommended 9 and 3 o'clock positions, you can turn it a full 180 degrees very quickly without removing either hand. But you have to act fast, steer quickly, and just as quickly straighten the wheel once you have avoided the object. The fact that such emergency situations are always possible is a good reason to practice defensive driving at all times and wear safety belts properly. If the level of the shoulder is only slightly below the pavement, recovery should be fairly easy. Ease off the accelerator and then, if there is nothing in the way, steer so that your vehicle straddles the edge of the pavement. Turn the steering wheel 3 to 5 inches, 76 to 127 mm, (about one-eighth turn) until the right front tire contacts the pavement edge. Then turn the steering wheel to go straight down the roadway.