1995 Buick Riviera Owner's Manual - Page 155

There are times when steering can be more effective than braking. Forexample, you come overa hill and find a truck stopped in your lane, a car suddenly pulls or out from nowhere,or a child darts out from between Suppose you're steering througha sharp curve. Then parked cars and stops right in front of you. You can you suddenly accelerate. Both control systems -avoid these problemsby braking -- if you can stop in steering and acceleration-- have to do their work where time. But sometimes you can't; there isn't room. That's the tires meet the road. Unless you have traction control the time for evasive action -- steering around the and the system is adding the sudden acceleration can on, problem. demand too muchof those places. You can lose control. Your Buick can perform very well in emergencies like Speed limit signs nearcurves warn that you should these. First apply your brakes. (See "Braking in adjust your speed. Of course, the posted speeds are Emergencies'' earlier in this section.) It is better to based on good weather and road conditions. Under less from a possible remove as much speed as you can favorable conditions you'll want go slower. to collision. Then steer around the problem, to the left or right depending on the space available. If you need to reduceyour speed as you approach a curve, do it before you enter thecurve, while your front An emergency like this requires close attention and a wheels are straight ahead. quick decision. If you are holding the steering wheel at the recommended 9 and 3 o'clock positions, you can Try to adjust your speedso you can "drive" through the turn it a full 180 degrees very quickly without removing curve. Maintain a reasonable, steady speed. Wait to either hand. Butyou have to act fast, steer quickly, and accelerate until youare out of the curve, and then just as quickly straighten the wheel once you have accelerate gently into the straightaway. avoided the object. The traction you can getin a curve depends on the condition of your tires andthe road surface, the angle at which the curve is banked, and your speed. While you're in a curve, speed is theone factor you can control. Steering in Emergencies 4-10