The front-wheel drive car is characterized by high sensitivity to any movement of the steering wheel. The self-return of the steering wheel, in which the steered wheels tend to return to the direction of rectilinear motion, is not constant. It increases with sharp acceleration in corners, and the stabilizing moment is clearly felt on the steering wheel. In addition, the car has excellent directional stability, including on slippery straight sections of the road.
When driving on a straight slippery road in a rear-wheel drive car, the rear wheels constantly tend to go to the side (skid occurs). Therefore, the driver has to manipulate the steering wheel and reduce the speed to maintain the vehicle's directional stability. The front-wheel drive car drives steadily on a straight slippery road, even at high speed, without showing any tendency to skid. This reduces stress on the driver, creates comfort and a sense of confidence. His vigilance will be dulled, he can get carried away by speed and, if an unexpected situation arises on the road, he will not be able to make the necessary maneuver.
A sign of a critical situation is «light handlebar» and minor lateral displacements of the car, i.e., the loss of its directional stability. This indicates the slipping of the front wheels, in which the ability to maneuver is lost. The car becomes uncontrollable. Therefore, it is important to always feel the steering and in a timely manner, by changing the speed of the engine crankshaft, to prevent wheel slip.
When turning on a slippery road, the driver of a rear-wheel drive car reduces speed in advance, and if a skid begins (loss of rear wheel traction), then releases the gas and turns, if necessary, the steering wheel in the direction of skidding. In a front-wheel drive car, at the beginning of a skid on a turn, you cannot release the gas, since this will sharply increase the skid. After all, when the gas is released, the car is slowed down by the engine, the rear of the car rises, the rear wheels are unloaded, lose traction and move sideways.
The driver of a front-wheel drive car must firmly grasp that it is necessary to release the gas to reduce speed before the turn, and not on the turn. It is better to pass the turn in the mode «tightness», by gradually increasing the engine speed. When cornering, avoid sudden braking and releasing the gas, which can lead to loss of traction of the wheels with the road. If the car nevertheless went into a skid on a turn, the driver must turn the steering wheel in the direction of the skid, without dropping, but even adding gas. In case of a strong skid, simultaneously with an increase in the fuel supply, the turn should be corrected by the steering wheel.
It is necessary to add gas to eliminate skidding on a turn, otherwise drifting may occur - loss of adhesion of the front drive wheels to the road, and the car will become uncontrollable. Drift can also occur when entering a slippery corner at high speed. In this case, the car will move along a flatter curve than necessary, and it will drift to the outside of the turn. To eliminate the drift, do not turn the steering wheel in the direction of the turn, you only need to release the gas to restore the grip of the front wheels with the road. After that, the car will receive a sharp throw in the direction of rotation of the front wheels, and it will return to the set direction of movement.
Thus, the driver of a front-wheel drive car must learn the following basic rules for dealing with critical situations:
- when approaching a turn, it is necessary to reduce the speed so as to ensure a reliable supply of wheel traction;
- in the event of a skid, do not release the gas and correct the movement of the car by turning the steering wheel in the direction of the skid or gradually increase the fuel supply, increasing the traction force on the drive wheels;
- in the event of a drift, release the gas until the slippage of the front wheels is eliminated, and then correct the movement of the car with the steering wheel.
After mastering the techniques of extinguishing skidding and drifting, the driver will feel all the advantages of a front-wheel drive car: driving comfort, better handling and stability.