Braking in Emergencies
At some time, nearly every driver gets into a situation
that requires hard braking.
If you have anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the
same time. However,
if you don’t have anti-lock, your
first reaction
-- to hit the brake pedal hard and hold it
down
-- may be the wrong thing to do. Your wheels can
stop rolling. Once they do, the vehicle can’t respond to
your steering. Momentum will
carry it in whatever
direction it was headed when the wheels stopped rolling.
That could be off the road, into the very thing you were
trying to avoid, or into traffic.
If you don’t have anti-lock, use
a “squeeze” braking
technique.
This will give you maximum braking while
maintaining steering control. You do this by pushing on
the brake pedal with steadily increasing pressure.
In an emergency, you will probably want to squeeze the
brakes hard without locking the wheels. If you hear or
feel the wheels sliding, ease
off the brake pedal. This
will help you retain steering control. (If you
do have
anti-lock, it’s different: see “Anti-Lock Brakes” in
the Index.)
In many emergencies, steering can help you more than
even the very best braking.
Steering
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because the engine‘
stops or the system is not functioning, you can steer but
it will take much more effort.
Variable Assist Steering
This steering system provides lighter steering effort for
parking and when driving at low speeds. Steering effort
will increase at higher speeds for improved road feel.
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 gqing in the same direction. If you’ve ever
. . ,,: ., .. %
A,. .c .. j: tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you’ll understand this.
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Roadside Assistance .............................. 8-5
Roadside Assistance. Canadian ...................... 8-5
Rocking Your Vehicle
........................... 5-34
Rotation. Tires ................................. 6-50
safety Belt Extender ............................ 1-62 P Safety Belts .................................... 1-5
.. p Adults ....................................... 1-10
... Automatic Lap-Shoulder ........................ 1-3 1
Care
....................................... 6-59
Center Passenger ‘Position
...................... 1-34
Children
.,.................................. l-42
Driver Position .......................... 1-10, 1-16
Extender ...,.,,,,,.......................... l-62
How to Wear Properly ......................... 1 - 10
Incomct Usage ............... 1-12, 1-19, 1-60, 1-61
Lap-Shoulder ............ 1-10,l-16.1-31, 1-34, 1-36
Larger Children .............................. 1-59
Questions and Answers
......................... 1-9
Rear Comfort Guides
.......................... 1-39
Rear $eat Outside Passenger Positions ............ 1-34
Rear Seat Passengers .......................... 1-36
Reminder Light
.......................... 1-6, 2-46
Replacing After a Crash ........................ 1-62
Right Front Passenger Position ............. 1-30, 1-34
Smaller Children and Babies .................... 1-42
Use During Pregnancy
......................... 1-30
WhyTheyWork ............................... 1-6
Safety
ChaiBs .................................. 4-34
Safety Defects, Reporting
......................... 8-9
Safety Warnings and Symbols ....................... iii
6 ‘I
LapBelt .................................... 1-34
Scheduled Maintenance Services .................... 7-3 Seatback
Latches ...................................... 1-5
Reclining
Front ............................... 1-3
Manual Front
................................. 1-1
Power
....................................... l-2
Restraint Systems .............................. 1-1
Seat Controls
................................. 1-1
Securing a Child Restraint
...................... 1-44
Second
Gear, Automatic Transaxle ................. 2-17
Second-Gear Start, Automatic Transaxle
............. 2-18
Security Light
.................................. 2-56
Security System
................................. 2-8
Bulletins, Ordering
............................ 8-12
Engine Soon Light
............................ 2-52
Manuals, Ordering
............................ 8-11
Parts Identification Label ....................... 6-64
Publications, Ordering ......................... 8-11
Work. Doing Your Own
......................... 6-2
Service and Appearance Care ...................... 6-1
Service and Owner
publicahms ................... 8-11
Service Publications
............................. 8-11
Servicing
Your Air Bag-Equipped Pontiac ........... 1-29
SheetMetalDamage ............................ 6-62
shifting
Automtic Transaxle .......................... 2-14
htQ
Park (P) ................................. 2-19
Signaling
Turns ................................. 2-27
Sound Equipment, Adding
........................ 3-22
Spare Tire, Compact
.............................. 5-33
Seats
Service
........................................ 6-1
ShiftLever
.................................... 2-14
OutofPark .................................. 2-22
Skidding ...................................... 4-13
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