1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue Owner's Manual - Page 169

Skidding In a skid, a driver can lose controlof the vehicle. Defensive drivers avoidmost skids by taking to reasonable care suited existing conditions,and by not "overdriving" those conditions. skids are But always possible. your vehicle's The three typesof skids correspond to three control systems. In the braking skid, wheels your aren't rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, too much speed or steering ina curve causes tires to slip And in the acceleration and lose cornering force. skid, too much throttle causes the driving wheels to spin. A cornering skid is best handled by easing your foot off the accelerator pedal. Remember: Any traction control system helps avoid only the acceleration skid. If your traction control system is off, then an acceleration skid isalso best handled by easing your foot off the accelerator pedal. Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice, gravel or othermaterial is on the road. For safety, you'll want to slow down and adjust your driving to these conditions. It is important to slow down on slippery surfaces because stopping distancewill be longerand vehicle controlmore limited. While driving ona surface with reduced traction, try your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration or braking (including enginebraking by shifting to a lower gear). Any sudden changes could causethe tires to slide. You may not realize the surface isslippery until your vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognizewarning clues -- such as enough water, ice orpacked 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. If your vehicle starts to slide, ease foot off the your accelerator pedaland quickly steer theway 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 it occurs. 4-15