1995 Buick Roadmaster Owner's Manual - Page 151

Control of a Vehicle Braking You have three systems that make your vehicle go where Braking action involves perception time and reaction you want it to go. They are the brakes, the steering and time. the accelerator. All three systems have do their work to First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal. at the places wherethe tires meetthe road. That's perception time. Then you have to bring up your foot and doit. That's reaction time. Average reaction time is about 3/4 of a second. But that's only an average. might be less with one driver It and as long as two or three seconds or more with another. Age, physical condition, alertness, coordination, and eyesight all play a part. do alcohol, drugs and So frustration. But even in of a second, a vehicle 3/4 moving at 60 mph (100 km/h) travels 66 feet (20 m). That could be a of distance in an emergency,so lot keeping enough space between your vehicle and others is important. And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly with the surface the road (whether it's pavement or of gravel); the condition the road (wet, dry, of icy); tire tread; and the condition your brakes. of Sometimes, as when you're driving on snowice, it's or easy to ask more those control systems than tires of the and road can provide. That means you lose control can of your vehicle. 4-5