1997 Pontiac Firebird Owner's Manual - Page 192

What's the worst time for this? "Wet ice." Very cold snow or ice can be slick and hard to drive on.But wet ice canbe even more trouble because it may offer the least traction of all. You can get wet ice when it's about freezing (32"F; 0"C) and freezing rain begins to fall. Try to avoid driving onwet ice until salt and sand crews can get there. Whatever the condition -- smooth ice, packed, blowing or loose snow -- drive with caution, If you have traction control, keep the system on.It will improve your ability to accelerate when driving on a slippery road. Even though your vehiclehas a traction control system, you'll want to slow down and adjust your driving to the road conditions. See "Traction Control System" in the Index, Your anti-lock brakes improve your vehicle's stability when you make a hard stop ona slippery road. Even though you have the anti-lock braking system, you'll want to begin stopping soonerthan you would on dry pavement. See "Anti-Lock" in the Index. 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 overpass may remain icy when the surrounding roads are clear. If you see a patch of ice aheadof you, brake before you are onit. Try not to brake while you're actually on the ice, and avoid sudden steering maneuvers. If you don't have the traction control system, accelerate gently. Try not to break the fragile traction. If you accelerate too fast,the drive wheels will spin and polish the surface under the tires even more.