1998 Chevrolet Lumina Owner's Manual - Page 176

In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle. Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonable care suited to existing conditions, and by not "overdriving" While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try your bestto avoid sudden steering, acceleration or those conditions. But skids are always possible. braking (including engine braking by shifting to a The three typesof skids correspond to your vehicle's lower gear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires three control systems. In the braking skid, your wheels to slide. You may not realize the surface slippery until is aren't rolling. In steering or cornering skid, the too your vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning much speed or steering a curve causes tires to slip and clues such as enough water, or packed snow on in ice lose cornering force. And in the acceleration skid, too the road to make a "mirrored surface" and slow down -much throttle causes the driving wheels to spin. when you have any doubt. A cornering skid and acceleration skid are best an If you have the anti-lock braking system, remember: handled by easing your foot the accelerator pedal. off It helps avoid onlythe braking skid. If you do not have anti-lock, then ina braking skid (where the wheels are If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the no longer rolling), release enough pressure the brakes on accelerator pedal and quickly steer way you wantthe the vehicle to go. you start steering quickly enough, your to get the wheels rolling again. This restores steering If control. Push the brake pedal down steadily when you vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready a for have to stop suddenly. As long as the wheels are rolling, second skid if occurs. it you will have steering control. Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice, gravel or other material is on the road. safety, you'll For want to slow down and adjust your driving to these conditions. It is important to slow down on slippery surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and vehicle control more limited. -- 4-14