1996 Buick Century Owner's Manual - Page 143

If your vehicle starts to slide, easeyour foot off the accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want the Let's review what driving expertssay about what vehicle to go. you start steeringquickly enough, your If happens when the three control systems (brakes, steering vehicle may straighten out.Always be ready for a and acceleration) don't have enough friction where the second skid if it occurs. tires meet the road to do what the driver has asked. Of course, tractionis reduced when water, snow, ice, In any emergency, don't give up. Keep trying to steer and gravel orother material is on the road. For safety, you'll constantly seek anescape route or area of less danger. want to slow down and adjust your driving to these conditions. It is importantto slow down on slippery surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and In a skid, a driver can lose control vehicle. of the vehicle control morelimited. Defensive driversavoid most skids by taking reasonable While driving on a surfacewith reduced traction, try care suited to existing conditions, by not and your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration or "overdriving" those conditions. But skids are always braking (including enginebraking by shifting to a lower possible. gear). Any sudden changescould cause the tires to The three types skids correspond to of your Buick's slide. You may not realize the surface slippery until is three control systems.In the braking skid, your wheels your vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognizewarning aren't rolling.In the steering or cornering skid, too clues -- such as enoughwater, ice orpacked snow much speed or steeringin a curve causes tires to slip and on the road to make a "mirrored surface" -- and lose cornering force. And in the acceleration skid, too slow down when you have any doubt. much throttle causes the driving wheels to spin. Remember: Any anti-lock brake system (ABS) helps A cornering skidand an acceleration skid are best avoid only the braking skid. handled by easing your foot off the acceleratorpedal.