1996 Pontiac Firebird Owner's Manual - Page 175

0 Check your mirrors, glance over your shoulder, and start your left lane change signal before moving out of the right lane to pass. When youare far enough ahead of the passed vehicle to see its front in your inside mirror, activate your right lane change signal and move backinto the right lane. (Remember that your right outside mirror is convex. The vehicle you just passed may seem tobe farther away from you than it really is,) L Skidding In a skid, a driver can lose control the vehicle. of Defensive drivers avoidmost skids by taking reasonable care suited to existing conditions, and by not "overdriving" those conditions. But skids always possible. are The three types ofskids correspond to your Pontiac's three control systems. Inthe braking skid, your wheels aren't rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, too much speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip and lose cornering force. And in the acceleration skid, too much throttle causes thedriving wheels to spin. A cornering skid is best handled by easing your foot off the accelerator pedal. 0 Ty not to pass more than one vehicle at a time r on two-lane roads. Reconsider before passing the next vehicle. Don't overtake a slowly moving vehicle too rapidly. Even though the brake lamps are not flashing,,it may be slowing down or starting to turn. 0 If you have the traction control system, remember: It 0 If you're being helps avoid only the acceleration skid. passed, make it easy for the following driver toget ahead of you. Perhaps you If you do not have traction control, or if the system is can ease a little to the right. off, then an acceleration skid is also best handled by easing your foot off the accelerator pedal. Loss of Control E your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the Let's review what driving experts say about what accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want the happens when thethree control systems (brakes, steering go. If you start steering quickly enough, your and acceleration) don't have enough friction where the vehicle to ..tiresmeettheroad to do what thedriver has asked.vehiclemaystraighten out. Always be ready for a . -. - . . second skid if it occurs. _ e emergency, don't any In .. constantly seek an escape route or areaof less danger. r -