1998 Pontiac Firebird Owner's Manual - Page 183

Check your mirrors, glance over your shoulder, and start your left lane change signal before moving out of the right lane pass. Whenyou are far enough to ahead of the passed vehicle see its front in your to inside mirror, activate your right lane change signal and move back into the right (Remember that lane. your rightoutside mirror is convex. The vehicleYOU just passed may seem to be farther away from YOU than it really is.) Loss of Control Let's review what driving experts say about what happens when the three control systems (brakes, steering and acceleration) don't have enough friction where the tires meet the road do what the driver has asked. to In any emergency, don'tgive up. Keep tryins to steer and constantly seekan escape route or area of less danger. T y not to pass more thanone 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, If you're being passed, make easy for the it following driver to get ahead you. Perhapsyou of can easea little to the right. 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, and by not "overdriving" skids are always possible. those conditions. But The three types of skids correspondto your vehicle's three control systems. the braking skid, your wheels In aren't rolling. In the steeringor cornering skid, too much speed or steering a curve causes tires to slip and in lose cornering force. And the accelerationskid, too in much throttle causes the driving wheels to spin. A cornering skidis best handledby easing yourfoot off the accelerator pedal. If you have the traction control system, remember: It helps avoid only the acceleration skid. 4-14