Main Methods To Control Oversteer In Automobiles
Oversteer is the term given to a situation where the car responds differently than that which the driver has commanded. Understeer is a situation where the car doesn’t seem to turn as much as the driver expects, understeer is generally easier to control. With oversteer, the car will turn more than the driver expects, leading to a loss of control of the car. Those with experience in driving cars, however, can control oversteer and keep their car safe and under control.
The most important part of controlling oversteer is knowing what to do before it even happens. An experienced driver will understand the dynamics of their vehicle, the amount of power and grip the car has, and will respond to changes in road surface or weather conditions accordingly. Taking a slightly slower speed through corners, for example, can help mitigate the risk of a sudden oversteer.
When the driver does encounter oversteer, the main responsibility for control of the car rests with him/her. First, the driver must recognize that the car is oversteering, to alter the response and correct it. A tense, youthful reaction typically causes more harm than good, as it often involves the driver “fighting” the situation by turning the wheel against the oversteering which makes it harder to control.
Correcting oversteer requires a calm, counterintuitive approach. The driver needs to look in the direction they wish to go and focus their attention on the change of direction they wish the car to take. Rapid inputs are neither necessary nor desired, as the goal is to re-align the car with the driver’s desired direction.
The driver should simultaneously and slowly reduce the steering input, toning it down until the wheels are effectively neutral. This can be done by turning the steering wheel in the opposite direction of the turn, while simultaneously pulling the inside pedal of the car back to the stop.
Countersteering is an effective way of correcting an oversteer, however, the driver needs to be aware of the overall dynamics of their vehicle in order for this to be done safely. Countersteering is the practice whereby one turns the steering wheel in the opposite direction momentarily, to drive the rear of the car in the opposite direction of the turn. Countersteering is usually followed by turning the steering wheel into the desired direction of the turn as the car regains traction.
Practice and a good understanding of how the car responds to certain conditions is what will help a driver control oversteer. Frightening as it may seem, knowing when and how to safely control oversteer can help a driver to avoid an accident and keep their car under control.
