2009 Chevrolet Impala Owner's Manual - Page 224

Braking in Emergencies At some time, nearly every driver gets into a situation that requires hard braking. If the vehicle has ABS, it allows the driver to steer and brake at the same time. However, if the vehicle does not have ABS, the first reaction - to hit the brake pedal hard and hold it down - might be the wrong thing to do. The wheels can stop rolling. Once they do, the vehicle cannot respond to the driver's steering. Momentum will carry it in whatever direction it was headed when the wheels stopped rolling. That could be off the road, into the very thing the driver was trying to avoid, or into traffic. If the vehicle does not have ABS, use a "squeeze" braking technique. This gives maximum braking while maintaining steering control. Do this by pushing on the brake pedal with steadily increasing pressure. In an emergency, you will probably want to squeeze the brakes hard without locking the wheels. If you hear or feel the wheels sliding, ease off the brake pedal. This helps retain steering control. With ABS, it is different. See Antilock Brake System (ABS) on page 4-5. In many emergencies, steering can help more than even the very best braking. Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Your vehicle may have an Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system which combines antilock brake, traction and stability control systems and helps the driver maintain directional control of the vehicle in most driving conditions. When you first start your vehicle and begin to drive away, the system performs several diagnostic checks to ensure there are no problems. You may hear or feel the system working. This is normal and does not mean there is a problem with your vehicle. The system should initialize before the vehicle reaches 20 mph (32 km/h). If the system fails to turn on or activate, the ESC/TCS light will be on solid, and the SERVICE STABILITRAK message will be displayed. For more information, see Driver Information Center (DIC) on page 3-42. 4-6