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
vehicle’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.
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 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.
Remember: Any anti-lock braking system (ABS) helm avoid only the
braking skid.
Driving Guidelines
This multipurpose passenger vehicle is defined
as
a
utility vehicle
in
Consumer Information Regulations issued by the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) of
the
United States Department of
Transportation. Utility vehicles have higher ground clearance and
a
narrower
track
to
make them capable of performing
in
a
wide variety
of
off-road
applications. Specific design characteristics give them
a
higher center of
gravity than ordinary cars. An advantage
of
the higher ground clearance is
a
better view of the road allowing
you
to
anticipate problems. They are not
designed for cornering at the same speeds as conventional 2-wheel drive
vehicles any more than low-slung sports cars are designed
to
perform
satisfactorily under off-road conditions. If at all possible, avoid sharp turns or
abrupt maneuvers. As with other vehicles
of
this type, fdure to operate this
vehicle correctly may result
in
loss
of
control or vehicle rollover.
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