The bad news is that no motorist ever will be able to handle a car as well as a professional racer, stunt driver or a graduate of a costly advanced car-control course at one of the few high-performance driving schools.

Even the world's best athletes must be taught advanced car-control techniques.

But the good news is most drivers in decent physical shape, who aren't saddled with things such as bad reflexes or lousy depth perception, can drive smoothly and safely if they follow simple advice.

And it makes no difference if you own a car or light truck, such as a minivan or sport/utility vehicle. The same rules apply.

Where to start? Good driving begins the instant you sit behind the wheel. You should be comfortable, but don't slouch. Move the driver's seat so you're sitting upright, can see clearly in all directions and are able to perform gentle, smooth, precise movements with controls.

Elbows should be slightly bent. You must be able to comfortably turn the steering wheel, reach the pedals and operate key controls.

Adjust rearview mirrors before you start, and buckle up.

Once under way, and confronted with an emergency that requires evasive action, remember that steering is preferred to braking at speeds above approximately 20 m.p.h. because less distance is needed to steer around an object than to brake to a stop. Anti-lock brakes are extremely helpful because they allow you to slow down quickly, without locking the brakes and losing steering control.

If your car doesn't have anti-lock brakes, use "threshold" braking. It calls for firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal - just short of causing the brakes to lock, which will rob you of steering control.

In emergencies where steering will do no good, anti-lock brakes call for you to simply mash the brake pedal as hard as you can and let the anti-lock system work the brakes; don't try to "modulate" them with the brake pedal.

No matter what brake system your vehicle has, give yourself plenty of room to maneuver in any kind of weather, and always drive way "ahead" of yourself. By looking as far as possible beyond vehicles directly in front of your car, you can spot dangerous situations long before they become a hazard to you.

Here are other key tips from General Motors and independent driving experts:

Turn signal: Always use it when changing lanes, even if you're in the right-turn-only lane. Don't ever assume others - motorists or pedestrians - can correctly guess your driving intentions. When possible, signal at least 100 feet before any change in direction.

Recognizing risks: Kids playing near the street? Cars pulling from the curb? Cross-traffic street with obstructed vision? They all can mean trouble for a driver not paying attention.

Highway driving: As speed increases, a typical motorist's eyes focus more on what's directly in front, less on what is to his sides.

Possible head-on collision: Always move to your right, if on a two-lane highway and you see a car quickly approaching in your lane that's ignoring your horn honking. Reduce speed and wait as long as possible to pull out of your lane. You may have to drive completely off the road, so look for something "soft" to hit, such as shrubbery.

Hydroplaning: This is a scary condition where tires ride on a film of water and lose road contact. To avoid losing control, ease off the gas pedal so tires can regain their footing; avoid sharp turns or sudden, hard braking.

Guardrail: If you car is forced into a guardrail, maintain a firm grip on the wheel, apply brakes firmly and then gradually steer from the guardrail to stop on the other side of the road to check on damage. Don't slow too quickly and cause yourself to be rear-ended, and don't suddenly veer to the other side of the road. Put on that right-hand turn signal until you're out of the stream of traffic.

Sharing the road with trucks: Be wary. Trucks are much bigger than you are and can block your vision. Drive closer than 200 feet behind a truck, and you may be in its blind spot. Make sure the driver can see you in his side mirrors. Complete your pass as quickly as possible, but never move back in front of the truck unless you can

see it in your inside rearview mirror. On a level highway, it often takes up to five seconds longer to pass a truck than a car.

Drunk drivers: Put him ahead of you. If you see a drunk driver behind you, signal and make a right turn onto another roadway or driveway. On a long stretch of open highway, continue until you can safely pull off the road and let the drunk driver move ahead.

Emergency vehicles: If you can't move to the right lane, stop and stay where you are. Emergency vehicles have lights and sirens to warn motorists of their path. Your car doesn't.

Tailgating: If a vehicle is tailgating you, let it pull ahead as soon and as safely as possible. Don't play games, such as switching on your lights during the day to make the tailgater think you're braking. When following, allow a three-second interval between your car and the one ahead.

Railroad crossings: Don't try to "beat" a train at a crossing. It's hard to accurately judge a train's speed.

Broken traffic light: Treat such intersections as if they were four-way stops. Yield the right-of-way to the car on the right in the intersecting street.

Motorcycles: Their small size often makes them hard to spot, and many are driven way too recklessly. So aggressively look for motorcycles in changing traffic patterns.

Avoiding collisions: Bad weather, mechanical failure and poor roads can contribute to accidents. But traffic experts say driver error causes most collisions. Drivers should always keep eyes on the road, pull onto the shoulder if they need to check a map, remain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead and allow plenty of room for lane changing.

Drifting onto the right shoulder: Hold the steering wheel firmly, ease off the throttle and steer so your vehicle straddles the edge of the pavement. Then turn the wheel gradually until the front tire is back on the pavement.