1997 GMC Jimmy Owner's Manual - Page 179

If your vehicle startst o slide, ease your foot the off accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want the vehicle to go. If you start steering quickly enough, your vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for a second skid if il occurs. Of course, traction is reduced when water. snow, ice, gravel or other material is on the road. For safety. you'll want to slow down and adjust your driving to these conditions. It is important t o slow down on slippery surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and vehicle control more lilnited. While driving on a surface with reduced traction. try your best to avoid sudden steering, accelerationor braking (inclucling engine braking by shifting t o a lower gear). Any sudden changes could causethe tircs lo slide. You may not realize the surface is slippery until yo11r vehicle is skidding. Learn t o recognize warning clues -- such as enough water. ice or packed snow on the road to make a "mirrored surface" -- and slow down when you have any doubt. Remember: Any anti-lock brake system (ABS) helps avoid only the braking skid. Driving Guidelines This multipurpose passenger vehicle is defined a utility as vehicle i n Consumer Information Regulations issuedby the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) o f the United States Department of Transportation. Utility vehicles have higher ground clearance and a narrower track to make them capable of performing i n a wide variety o f off-road applications. a Specific design characteristics give them higher center of gravity than ordinary cars. An advantage of the higher ground clearance is a better view of the road allowing yo11 t o anticipate problems. They arenot designed for cornering at the same speeds as conventional two-wheel-drive vehicles any more than low-slung sports cars are dcsigned to perform satisfactorily under off-road conditions. If a t a l l possible. avoid shalp turns or abrupt manewers. As with other vehicles of this type. failure to operate this vehicle correctly may resulti n loss of control or vehicle rollover. 4-14