1997 Chevrolet Blazer Owner's Manual - Page 175

If your vehicle starts to slide. ease your foot off the accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want the vehicle to go. I f you start steering quickly enough. your vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for a second skid if it occurs. Driving Guidelines This multipurpose passenger vehicle is defined as utility a vehicle in Consumer Information Regulations issuedby the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of the United States Department of Transportation. Utility vehicles have higher ground clearance and a nmower track to make them capable of perfolming in a wide variety of off-road applications. Specific design characteristics give them a higher center of gravity than ordinary cars. An advantage of the higher 2 oround clearance is a better view of the road allowing you to anticipate problems.They are not designed for cornering at the same speeds as conventional two-wheel-drive vehicles any more than low-slung sports cars are designed to perform satisfactorily under off-road conditions. If at all possible, avoid sharp turns or abrupt maneuvers. As with other vehicles of this type, failure to operate this vehicle correctly may result in loss of control or vehicle rollover. 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 important to slow down on slippery surfaces because stopping distance will be 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 enginebraking by shifting to a lower t oear). A n y sudden changes could causethe tires to slide. You may not realize the surface is 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 anti-lock brake system (ABS) helps avoid only the braking skid. 4-14