The Traction Control System (TCS) improves your
ability to accelerate when driving on a slippery
road. But you can turn the TCS off if you ever
need to. You should turn the system off if
your vehicle ever gets stuck in sand, mud, ice,
or snow. See If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice, or Snow on page 224. Even though your
vehicle has the Traction Control System (TCS),
you will want to slow down and adjust your driving
to the road conditions. Under certain conditions,
you may want to turn the TCS off, such as
when driving through deep snow and loose gravel,
to help maintain vehicle motion at lower speeds.
See Traction Control System (TCS) on page 199
and Electronic Stability Control on page 201.
The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) improves your
vehicle’s stability when you make a hard stop
on a slippery road. Even though you have ABS,
you will want to begin stopping sooner than
you would on dry pavement. See Anti-Lock Brake
System (ABS) on page 197.
If the ABS is ever disabled, 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.
• 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
may 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 may 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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