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loss of Control
Let's review what driving experts say
about what happens when the three
control system (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 o f 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 are.n't rolling. In
the steering or cornering skid, too much
speed or steering i n a curve causes tires to
slip and lose cornering force. And i n 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.
I f your vehicle starts
t o
slide, ease your
foot
011'
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. 41ways be
ready for
;I
sccond 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
t o
these
conditions. It is important
t o
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, o r braking
(including engine braking by shifting
EO
a
lower gear). Any sudden changes could
cause the tires to slide. You may
not
realize the surface is slippery
until
yout-
vehicle is skidding. Learn
t o
recognize
warning clues
~
such
a s
enough water,
ice or packed snow on the road to make
;1
"nlir~-or.ed surf'rlce"
-
and
slow
down
when you have any doubt.
Remember: The rex-wheel anti-lock
braking system (RWAL) helps avoid only
a
rear braking skid. In
a
braking skid
(where the front wheels are
no
longer
rolling), release enough pressure o n
the
brakes
t o
get the front wheels rolling
again. This restores steering control. Push
the brake pedal down steadily when you
have
t o
stop suddenly. As long as the
I'ront wheels are rolling, you will have
sleering control.
Driving Guidelines
This multipurpose passenger vehicle is
defined as a utility vehicle
in
Consumer
Information Regulations issued by the
National I-lighway 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
a s
conventional 2-wheel drive vehicles
any no re
than low-slunl
7
.'p
' - ,
orts cars are
designed to perform satisfitctorily under
off-road conditions. If at
all
possible,
avoid shurp turns or abrupt maneuvers.
107
. . .
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