What are the effects of insufficient power steering on driving?
3 Answers
Insufficient power steering in a vehicle can have the following effects on driving: 1. It can make steering the vehicle laborious and difficult, and in severe cases, may even render the vehicle unable to turn; 2. Reduced power steering diminishes the vehicle's responsiveness, compromising driving safety; 3. Insufficient power steering hampers the driver's ability to adjust the vehicle's direction smoothly, increasing the effort required to turn the steering wheel. Therefore, it is important to regularly maintain the power steering system. For both mechanical hydraulic and electro-hydraulic power steering systems, it is advisable to frequently check whether the power steering fluid in the reservoir is at an adequate level.
As a veteran taxi driver with twenty years behind the wheel, I find insufficient power steering particularly frustrating. At low speeds during turns, the steering wheel feels like it's filled with lead—requiring significant effort to turn. After six or seven hours of daily passenger service, my shoulders and arms ache so much I can barely lift them. What scares me most is encountering pedestrians or vehicles that dart out suddenly; the sluggish steering response makes it nearly impossible to avoid them. Last time at an intersection, I almost hit an e-bike running a yellow light, which gave me a real scare. This issue also wreaks havoc on the car—the steering linkage wears out quickly. My mechanic, Xiao Liu, says replacing the power steering pump could cost several thousand. Now, I get the power steering fluid pressure checked every three months—safety comes first, especially when carrying passengers.
When my daughter first got her driver's license, she practiced driving in her dad's old car, but the power steering would sometimes work and sometimes not. The poor kid was so scared she called me, saying the steering wheel felt stuck and wouldn't turn at all. I had my husband go pick her up, and the mechanic said it was just a loose connector on the power steering motor. This kind of issue is nothing to take lightly - new drivers already lack experience, and if the power steering fails while changing lanes on the highway, panic could make them overcorrect and roll the car. Later I insisted we get a new car with electronic power steering - the wheel turns as lightly as a toy car, you can steer with just one finger. A word of advice for families with young drivers: address any steering system problems early.
