If you are driving an unfamiliar vehicle, you should be conservative when:

When driving an unfamiliar vehicle, being conservative with braking and steering is crucial for several reasons. Every vehicle has unique handling characteristics, including the responsiveness of the brakes and the steering mechanism. If you are not accustomed to how a particular vehicle behaves, sudden or aggressive inputs could lead to loss of control, especially in emergency situations or on slippery surfaces.

By taking a conservative approach to braking and steering, you give yourself time to understand the vehicle's behavior and adjust your driving accordingly. For instance, when braking, you may need to apply pressure more gradually to gauge how the vehicle responds compared to what you might be used to in another vehicle. Similarly, steering input may require finesse to navigate turns smoothly without oversteering or understeering.

Being cautious in these aspects ensures both your safety and the safety of others on the road while adapting to the unfamiliar driving experience. In contrast, using the air conditioner, adjusting stereo controls, or checking side mirrors, while important, do not significantly impact the immediate dynamics of vehicle control in the same critical manner. Prioritizing braking and steering allows you to maintain better command over the vehicle as you adjust to its specific handling.