What driving behavior can destabilize a rear-wheel drive vehicle when negotiating a corner or a curve?

Excessive speed and sudden braking can significantly destabilize a rear-wheel drive vehicle while negotiating a corner or a curve due to the dynamics of weight transfer and traction. When a driver enters a turn too quickly, it can cause the rear tires to lose grip, leading to oversteer, where the back of the vehicle swings out, making it difficult to maintain control. Additionally, if sudden braking occurs during this maneuver, it further shifts the vehicle's weight to the front wheels, reducing rear traction and increasing the likelihood of skidding or losing control in the back end.

In contrast, gently accelerating, maintaining a constant speed, or using the handbrake does not have the same destabilizing effects in the same way. Gentle acceleration can help create forward momentum without significantly impacting the vehicle's balance, while maintaining a constant speed helps keep the weight distribution stable. Using the handbrake, while potentially useful for initiating a drift in specific driving styles, is generally not a standard practice for negotiating curves safely and can also lead to loss of control if not executed correctly.