1993 Pontiac Grand Prix Owner's Manual - Page 173

Your Driving and the Road c Drivjng on Snow or Ice Most 'ofthe time, those places where your tires meet the road probably have good traction. However, i there is snow or ice f betw,een your tires the road,you and can have a very slippery situation. You'll have a lot less traction or "grip'' an'dwill need to be very careful. What's the worst time forthis? "Wet ice." Very cold snow or ice can be slick and hard todrive on. But wet ice can be even more trouble because it may offer the least traction of all. Youcan get "wet ice" when it's about freezing (32"F,0.C) and freezing rain begins to fall. Try to avoid driving on wet ice until salt and sand crews can get there. Whatever the condition-smooth ice, packed, blowing or loose snow-drive with caution. Accelerate gently. Trynot to break the fragile traction. If you accelerate too fast, the drive wheelswill spin and polish the surface under the tires even more. Unless you havethe anti-lock braking system, you'll want to brake very gently, too. (If you do have anti-lock, see the Index under Anti-Lock Brake System. This system improves your vehicle's ability to make a hard stop ona slippery road.) Whether you have the anti-lock braking systemor not, you'll want to begin stopping sooner than you would on dry pavement.Without anti-lock brakes, if you feel your vehicle begin to slide, letup on the brakes a little. Push the brake pedal down steadily get the to most traction you can. Remember, unless you have anti-lock, if you brake so hard that your wheels stop rolling, you'll just slide. Brake your so wheels always keep rolling and you can still steer. Whatever your braking system, allow greater following distance on any slippery road. Watch for slippery spots. The road might be fine until you hit a spot that's covered with ice.On an otherwise clear road, ice patches may appear in shaded areas where the sun can't reach:around clumps of trees, behind buildings, or under bridges. Sometimes the surface of a curve or an overpassmay remain icy when the surrounding roads are clear. you see If a patchof ice ahead of you, brake before you are on it.Try not to brake while you're actually the ice, and on avoid sudden steering maneuvers. I 172