1998 Chevrolet Venture Owner's Manual - Page 268

Loss of Control Let's review what driving experts say about what happens when the three control systems (brakes, steering and acceleration) don't have enough friction where the tires meet the road todo what thedriver has asked. If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want the vehicle to go.If you start steering quicklyenough, your vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for a second skid if it occurs. In any emergency, don't give up. Keep trying to steer and constantly seek an escape route or area of less danger. Skidding In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle. Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonable care suited to existing conditions, and by not "overdriving" those conditions. But skids are always possible. The three typesof skids correspond to your vehicle's three control systems. In the braking skid, your wheels aren't rolling. Inthe steering or cornering skid, too much speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip and lose cornering force. And in the acceleration skid, too much throttle causesthe driving wheels to spin. A cornering skid and an acceleration skid are best handled by easingyour foot off the accelerator pedal. Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice, gravel or other material is on the road. For safety, you'l 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 (includingengine braking by shifting to a lower gear). Any suddenchanges could cause the tires to slide. You may not realizethe surface is slippery until your vehicle is skidding. Learnto recognize warning clues -- such as enough water, ice or packed snow on the road to make a"mirrored surface" -- and slow down when youhave any doubt. Remember: Any anti-lockbrake system ( A B S )helps avoid only the braking skid.