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 types of skids correspond to your Geo’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, ease your foot
off
the
accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want
the
vehicle to
go.
If
you start steering quickly enough, your
vehicle may straighten
out.
Always be ready for a
second
skid
if
it
occurs.
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.
mle
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 the tires to slide. You
may not realize the surface is slippery until your vehicle
is skidding. Learn to recognize warning clues
-- such as
enough water, ice
or
packed snow on the road to
make
a
“,mirrored surface”
--
and slow down when you have
any doubt.
If
you have the anti-lock braking system, remember:
It
helps avoid only the braking skid.
If
you
do
not have
anti-lock, then in a braking skid (where the wheels are
no longer rolling), release enough pressure
on
the brakes
to
get the wheels rolling again. This restores steering
control. Push the brake pedal down steadily when you
have
to
stop suddenly.
As
long
as
the
wheels
are
rolling,
you will have steering control.
4-13
To Next Page
Loading...
Need help?
General
