1997 Chevrolet Lumina Owner's Manual - Page 162

Control of a Vehicle You have three systems that make your vehicle where go you want it togo. They are the brakes, the steering and the accelerator. All three systems have to do their work at the places where the tires meet the road. Brakir a - Braking action involvesperception time and reaction time. First, you have to decide to push the brake pedal. on That's perception time. Then you have to bring up your foot anddo it. That's reaction time. Average reaction time is about 3/4 of a second. But that's only an average. might be less with one driver It and as long as two three secondsor more with or another. Age, physical condition, alertness, coordination and eyesight all play a part. do alcohol, drugs and So frustration. But even in of a second, a vehicle 3/4 moving at60 mph (100 km/h) travels 66 feet (20 m). That could be a lot distance inan emergency, so of 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 the road (wet, dry, icy); tire of tread; the condition of your brakes; the weight the of vehicle and the amount brake force applied. of Sometimes, as when you're driving on snow ice, it's or easy to ask more those control systems than the tires of and road can provide. That means can lose control you of your vehicle. 4-6