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Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time on
two-lane roads. Reconsider before passing the
next
vehicle.
Don’t overtake a slowly moving vehicle too rapidly.
Even though
the
brake lights are not flashing,
it
may
be slowing down or starting to turn.
following driver to get ahead of you. Perhaps
you
can ease a little
to
the
right.
If you’re being passed, make it easy for the
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
to
do what the driver has asked.
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
“over-
driving” those conditions. But skids are always possible.
The three types of skids correspond
to
your Buick‘s
three control systems. In
the
braking skid your wheels
aren’t rolling. In
the
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 causes the driving wheels
to
spin.
A
cornering skid and an acceleration skid are best
handled by easing your
foot
off the accelerator pedal.
If your vehicle starts to slide (as when
you
turn a comer
on
a wet, snow-or icexovered road), ease your foot
off
the accelerator pedal as
soon
as your
feel
the vehicle start
to slide. Quickly steer the way
you
want the vehicle
to
go. If you start steering quickly enough, your vehicle will
straighten
out.
As
it does, straighten
the
front wheels.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice,
gravel, or other material is
on
the road. For safety, you’ll
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 (including engine braking by shifting
to
a lower
gear). Any sudden changes could cause tires to slide.
You may
not
realize the surface
is
slippery until your
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