2008 Saturn Astra Owner's Manual - Page 176

8-24 Driving and Operating 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 Antilock Brake System (ABS) helps avoid only the braking skid. If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the 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 it occurs. Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice, gravel, or other material is on the road. For safety, you want to slow down and adjust your driving to these conditions. It is important to slow down on slippery surfaces because stopping distance is longer and vehicle control more limited. While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration, or braking, including reducing vehicle speed by shifting to a lower gear. Any sudden changes could cause the tires to slide. You might not realize the surface is • Slow down and keep more space between you and other vehicles because headlamps can only light up so much road ahead. Watch for animals. When tired, pull off the road. Do not wear sunglasses. Avoid staring directly into approaching headlamps. on your vehicle clean - inside and out. Driving at Night Night driving is more dangerous than day driving because some drivers are likely to be impaired - by alcohol or drugs, with night vision problems, or by fatigue. Night driving tips include: • Keep the windshield and all glass • Keep your eyes moving, especially during turns or curves. No one can see as well at night as in the daytime. But, as we get older, these differences increase. A 50-year-old driver might need at least twice as much light to see the same thing at night as a 20-year-old. • Drive defensively. • Do not drink and drive. • Reduce headlamp glare by adjusting the inside rearview mirror.