1997 Chevrolet Cavalier Owner's Manual - Page 168

Control of a Vehicle You have three systems thatmake your vehicle go where you want it to go. They are brakes, the steering and the the accelerator. All three systems have to do their work at the places where the tires meet the road. Braking Braking actioninvolves perception time ana reaction time. First, you have to decide to push onthe brake pedal. That's perception time. Then youhave to bring up your foot anddo it. That's reaction time. Average reaction time is about 314 of a second. But that's only an average. It might be less with one driver and as long as two or three seconds more with or another. Age, physical condition, alertness, coordination and eyesight all play a 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 bea lot of distance in an emergency, so keeping enough space between your vehicle and others is important. And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly with the surface of the road (whether it's pavement or gravel); the condition of the road (wet,d r y , icy); tire tread; the condition of your brakes; the weight ofthe vehicle and the amount of brake force applied. Sometimes, as when you'redriving on snow or ice, it's easy to ask moreof those control systems than the tires and road can provide. That means can lose control you of your vehicle. 4-6