1993 Pontiac Grand Am Owner's Manual - Page 142

Skidding In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle. Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonable care suited to existing conditions, andby not "overdriving" those conditions. But skids are always possible. The three typesof skids correspond to your Pontiac's three control systems.In the braking skid your wheels aren't rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, too much speedor steering in a curve causes tires to slip and lose cornering force. And in the acceleration skid too much throttle causes the driving wheels to spin. A cornering skid and an acceleration skid are best handled by easing your foot off the accelerator pedal.If your vehicle starts to slide (as when you turn a corner on a wet, snow- or ice-covered road), ease your foot offthe accelerator pedal as soon as you feel the vehicle start to slide. Quickly steer the you way want the vehicle to go.If you start steering quickly enough, your vehicle will straighten out. As it does, straighten the front wheels. 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 to slow down on slippery surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and vehiclecontrol more limited. While driving ona surface with reduced traction, try your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration, or braking (including engine braking by shifting to a lower gear). Any sudden change could cause the tires to slide. You may not realize the surface is slippery until your vehicle is skidding. Learn to 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 braking system (ABS) helps avoid onlythe braking skid. 141