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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 brake system (ABS) helps 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, failure
to operate this vehicle correctly may result
in
loss
of
control
or
vehicle
rollover.
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