1996 Chevrolet Astro Owner's Manual - Page 149

Loss of Confrol Let's review what driving expertssay about what happens when the three control systems (brakes, steering and acceleration) don't have enough friction where the tiresmeet the road to dowhat the driverhas asked. In any emergency, don't give up. Keep trying to steerand constantly seek an escape route or area less danger. of Skidding In a skid, a driver can lose controlthe vehicle. Defensive driversavoid of most skids by taking reasonable care suited to existing conditions, by and not "overdriving" those conditions. skids are always possible. But The threetypes of skids correspond to your vehicle's three controlsystems. In thebraking skid your wheels aren't rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, toomuch speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip lose and cornering force.And in the acceleration skid too much throttle causes the driving wheels to spin. A corneringskid and an acceleration skid are best handled by easing your foot off the accelerator pedal. If your vehicle starts to slide, ease foot off the acceleratorpedal and your 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'll 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 vehicle control more and limited. While drivingon a surfacewith reduced traction, try your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration, or braking (including engine braking by shifting to a lower gear). sudden changes could cause the tires slide. Any to You may not realize the surface slippery until your vehicle is skidding. is Learn to recognize warning clues - such as enough water, ice orpacked snow on theroad to make a "mirrored surface" - and slow down when you have any doubt. Remember: Any anti-lock brake system (ABS) helps avoid only the braking skid. 4-11