Control Of A Vehicle; Braking; Steering - GMC Chevrolet Cavalier 2022 Owner's Manual

82 Driving and Operating
Focus on the task of driving.

Control of a Vehicle

Never Coast with Engine Not Running
Many systems will not function in this
situation (e.g. brake servo unit, power
steering). Driving in this manner is a danger
to yourself and others.
Pedals
To ensure the pedal travel is uninhibited,
there must be no mats in the area of the
pedals.

Braking

Braking action involves perception time and
reaction time. Deciding to push the brake
pedal is perception time. Actually doing it is
reaction time.
Average driver reaction time is about
three-quarters of a second. In that time, a
vehicle moving at 100 km/h (60 mph) travels
20 m (66 ft), which could be a lot of
distance in an emergency.
Helpful braking tips to keep in mind include:
Keep enough distance between you and
the vehicle in front of you.
Avoid needless heavy braking.
Keep pace with traffic.
If the engine ever stops while the vehicle is
being driven, brake normally but do not
pump the brakes. Doing so could make the
pedal harder to push down. If the engine
stops, there will be some power brake assist
but it will be used when the brake is
applied. Once the power assist is used up, it
can take longer to stop and the brake pedal
will be harder to push.

Steering

Electric Power Steering
The vehicle has electric power steering.
It does not have power steering fluid.
Regular maintenance is not required.
If power steering assist is lost due to a
system malfunction, the vehicle can be
steered, but may require increased effort.
See your dealer if there is a problem.
If the steering wheel is turned until it
reaches the end of its travel and is held
against that position for an extended period
of time, power steering assist may be
reduced.
Normal use of the power steering assist
should return when the system cools down.
See specific vehicle steering messages under
Steering 0 82. See your dealer if there is a
problem.
Curve Tips
Take curves at a reasonable speed.
Reduce speed before entering a curve.
Maintain a reasonable, steady speed
through the curve.
Wait until the vehicle is out of the curve
before accelerating gently into the
straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
There are some situations when steering
around a problem may be more effective
than braking.
Holding both sides of the steering wheel
allows you to turn 180 degrees without
removing a hand.
Antilock Brake System (ABS) allows
steering while braking.