When driving too fast on a banked curve, where does the bus tend to lean?

When a bus is driving too fast on a banked curve, it tends to lean to the outside of the curve. This phenomenon occurs due to the forces acting on the bus while navigating the curve. In a banked turn, the roadway is tilted to help counteract the forces exerted on the vehicle, particularly the centrifugal force, which pushes the vehicle outward as it moves around the curve at higher speeds.

When the speed exceeds the design of the bank, the centrifugal force can become greater than the gravitational force pulling the bus down towards the road. As a result, this causes the bus to lean outward, away from the direction of the curve. Understanding this dynamic is crucial for safe bus operation, as it highlights the importance of adhering to speed limits, especially on banked curves, to maintain stability and control in the vehicle.