1994 Cadillac Seville Owner's Manual - Page 191

3 Sometimes, as when you're driving snow or ice, it's easy ask more of on to those control systems than the tires and road can provide.That means you can lose control of your vehicle. BRAKIN% Braking action involves perception time and reaction time. First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal. That's perception time. Then you have to bring up your foot and do it. That'sreaction time. Average reaction time isabout 3/4 of a second. But that's only an average. It might be less withone driver and as long astwo or three seconds or more with another. Age, physical condition, alertness, coordination, and eyesight all play part. So do alcohol, drugsand a at frustration. But evenin 3/4 of a second, a vehicle moving 60 mph (100 km/h) travels 66 feet (20 m). That could be a lot of distance in an others is emergency, so keeping enough space between your vehicle and important. And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly with surface of the the road(whether it's pavement or gravel); the condition of the road (wet, dry, icy); tire tread;and the condition of your brakes. Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive inspurts -- heavy acceleration followed by heavy braking-- rather than keeping pace with traffic. This is a mistake. Your brakes may not have timeto cool between hard stops. Yourbrakes will wear out much faster if you do a lot of heavy braking. If you keep pace with the traffic and allow realistic following 178