Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Your Driving and the Road
Steering
Power Steering
If you lase power steering assist because
the engine stops or the system
is not
functioning, you can steer but it will
take much more effort.
Steering Tips
Driving
on Curves
It’s important to take curves at a
reasonable speed.
A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents
mentioned
on the news happen on curves.
Here’s
why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each of
us is subject to the same laws of physics
when driving
on curves. The traction of
the tires against the road surface makes it
possible for the vehicle to change its path
when you
turn the front wheels. If there’s
no traction, inertia will keep the vehicle
going in
the same direction. If you’ve
ever tried to steer a vehicle
on wet ice,
you’ll understand this.
The traction you can get in a carve
depends
on the condition of your tires and
the road surface, the angle at which the
curve is banked, and your speed. While
you’re in
a curve, speed is the one factor
you can control.
I
Suppose you’re steering through a sharp
curve, Then
you suddenly accelerate.
Both control systems
- steering and
acceleration
- have to do their work
where the tires meet the road. Unless you
have traction control and the system is
on, adding the sudden acceleration can
demand too much of those places. You
can lose control.
What should you do if this ever happens?
Ease
up on the accelerator pedal, steer the
vehicle the way you want
it to go, and
slow down.
Speed limit signs near curves
warn that
you should adjust your speed. Of course,
the posted speeds are 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 you
approach a curve, do it before
you enter
the curve, while your front wheels are
straight ahead.
Try to adjust your speed
so you can
“drive” through the curve. Maintain a
reasonable, steady speed. Wait to
accelerate until you are opt
of the curve,
and then accelerate gently into the
straightaway.
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 can’t; there isn’t
room. That’s the time for evasive action
- steering around the problem.
Your Chevrolet can perform very well in
emergencies like these. First apply your
brakes. It is better to remove as much
speed as you can from a possible
collision. Then steer around the problem,
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine down. Shift to a lower gear when you
go down a steep or long hill.
If you don’t shift down, your brakes
could get so hot that they wouldn’t
work well. You would then have
poor
braking or even none going down a
hill. You could crash. Shift down to
let your engine assist your brakes on
a steep downhill slope.
I
m
Know how to go uphill. You may
want
to shift down to a lower gear.
The lower gears help cool your engine
and transmission, and you can climb
the
hill better.
Stay
in your own lane when driving
on two-lane roads
in hills or
mountains. Don’t swing wide or cut
across the center
of the road. Drive at
speeds that let you stay
in your own
lane.
As you go over the top of a hill, be
alert. There could be something
in
your lane, like a stalled car or an
accident.
You may see highway signs on
mountains that warn of special
problems. Examples are long grades,
passing or no-passing zones, a falling
rocks area, or winding roads. Be alert
to these and take appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Here are some tips for winter driving:
0 Have your Chevrolet in good shape
for winter. Be sure your engine
coolant
mix is correct.
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