Countersteering

As a counter-steering is generally referred to the intervention in a system with the intention to neutralize the current development or even reverse.

vehicles

Countersteer so that the car does not turn sideways or turn

Especially in extreme driving conditions such as oversteer or even skidding, one speaks of counter-steering when the driver actuates the steering device against the direction of rotation of the vehicle . This initial actuation should be carried out as round, precise and, above all, as early as possible in order not to lose control of the vehicle. The hands hold the steering wheel firmly in the quarter past nine position so that the arms are crossed when the steering wheel is turned more strongly. It is not recommended for less experienced drivers to "crank" by reaching over their hands on the steering wheel or to push the steering wheel through their hands, as otherwise there is the risk of losing knowledge of the position of the front wheels and thus of changing the If the vehicle suddenly turns into the vehicle by surprise. To avoid this problem too, the steering wheels of sports and racing cars are often color-coded at the 12 o'clock position so that the driver can always see the steering angle.

It should also be noted that at the moment when the success of the intervention can be seen, i.e. the actual direction of travel tends to better match the desired direction of travel, the counter-steering should be withdrawn as quickly as possible in order to avoid rocking .

Fast, often violent counter-steering ("sawing") is a technique that is used particularly in drifting and rallying and which is probably a major factor in its fascination for drivers and spectators. In classic circuit racing on asphalt, this is not usually the case, as the need for prolonged counter-steering actually signals that the rear wheels are overwhelmed with the cornering forces required to stabilize the car and are therefore moved outside their optimal working range. In the end, the achievable cornering speeds are therefore reduced if continuous counter-steering is necessary in order to keep a vehicle in the desired cornering radius.