Chevrolet 2008 Cobalt Automobile User Manual


 
Accelerate gently. Try not to break the fragile traction.
If you accelerate too fast, the drive wheels will spin and
polish the surface under the tires even more.
Unless your vehicle has the Antilock Brake System
(ABS), you want to brake very gently, too. If you do have
ABS, see Antilock Brake System (ABS) on page 4-5.
ABS improves your vehicle’s stability when you make a
hard stop on a slippery road. Whether your vehicle
has ABS or not, begin stopping sooner than you would
on dry pavement. Without ABS, if you feel your vehicle
begin to slide, let up on the brakes a little. Push the brake
pedal down steadily to get the most traction you can.
Remember, unless your vehicle has ABS, if you brake
so hard that the wheels stop rolling, you will just slide.
Brake so the wheels always keep rolling and you can still
steer.
Whatever your vehicle’s braking system, allow
greater following distance on any slippery road.
Watch for slippery spots. The road might be fine until
you hit a spot that is covered with ice. On an
otherwise clear road, ice patches can appear in
shaded areas where the sun cannot reach, such as
around clumps of trees, behind buildings, or under
bridges. Sometimes the surface of a curve or an
overpass can remain icy when the surrounding roads
are clear. If you see a patch of ice ahead of you,
brake before you are on it. Try not to brake while you
are actually on the ice, and avoid sudden steering
maneuvers.
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