1996 Cadillac Seville Owner's Manual - Page 188

Control of a Vehicle You have three systems thatmake your vehicle go where you want it to go. They are the brakes, the steering and the accelerator. All three systems have to do their work at the places where the tiresmeet the road. Braking Braking action involves perception time and reaction time. First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal. That's perception time. Then you have to bring up your foot and do it. That's reuction time. Average reaction time is about 3/4 of a second. But that's only an average. It might be less withone driver and as long as twoor three seconds or more with another. Age, physicalcondition, alertness, coordination and eyesight all playa part. So do alcohol, drugs and 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 lot distance in an emergency, so of keeping enough space between your vehicleand others is important. And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly with the surfaceof the road (whether it's pavement or gravel); the conditionof the road (wet, dry, icy); tire tread; and the conditionof your brakes. Sometimes, as when you'redriving on snow or ice, it's easy to ask more of those control systems than the tires and road can provide. That means youcan lose control of your vehicle. 4-5