1997 GMC Jimmy Owner's Manual - Page 171

Control of a Vehicle You have three systems that make your vehiclego where you want it to go. Theyare the brakes, the steering and the accelerator. All three systems have to their work do at the places where the tires meet the road. Braking Braking action involvesperception timeand reaction time. First, you have to decide to push the brake pedal. on That's perception time. Then you have to bring upyour foot and do it. That's reaction time. Average reaction time is about 314 of a second. But that's only an average. It might less with one driver be and as long as twoor three seconds or more with another. Age, physical condition, alertness, coordination and eyesight all play a part. So do alcohol, drugs and frustration. But even in 314 of a second, a vehicle moving at 60 mph (100 km/h) travels 66 feet (20 m). That could be a 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, dry, icy); tire tread; the condition of your brakes;the weight of the vehicle and the amount of brake force applied. Sometimes, as when you're driving on snow or ice, it's easy to ask more those control systemsthan the tires of and road can provide. That means can lose control you of your vehicle.