What symptom indicates a malfunction of the power steering system in a bus?
Show the correct answer
Correct answer
C. Significantly increased resistance of the steering wheel movement.
Explanation
In the photo, you can see a bus driver's position with a large steering wheel and a dashboard. A malfunction of the power steering is shown by significantly increased resistance when you turn the steering wheel - answer C.
The Road Traffic Act requires a vehicle to allow easy and reliable use of the steering control. Hydraulic power steering helps the driver turn the wheels of a heavy bus - when the pump, the belt or the fluid fails, the steering wheel suddenly becomes very heavy and turning needs a lot of force, especially at low speed and when the bus is stationary. Reduced resistance (answer A) is not a typical symptom of a power steering failure. The front wheels drifting sideways on a bend (answer B) points rather to a skid, too high a speed or worn tyres. With faulty power steering, you drive at most to the nearest safe place and call a repair service, because in a sudden situation you may not manage to turn in time.
Legal basis: Art. 66 para. 1 point 1 and 5 of the Road Traffic Act (Prawo o ruchu drogowym); § 9 para. 1b of the Regulation of the Minister of Infrastructure on the technical conditions of vehicles and the scope of their necessary equipment