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208 DRIVING AND OPERATING
. Acceleration Skid — too much
throttle causes the driving wheels to spin.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonable care suited to
existing conditions, and by not
overdriving those conditions. But skids are always possible.
If the vehicle starts to slide, follow these suggestions:
. Ease your foot off the accelerator pedal and steer the way you want the vehicle to go. The vehicle may straighten out. Be ready for a
second skid if it occurs.
. Slow down and adjust your driving according to weather conditions.
Stopping distance can be longer
and vehicle control can be affected when traction is reduced by water, snow, ice, gravel, or other material on the road. 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.
. Try to avoid sudden steering,
acceleration, or braking, including reducing vehicle speed by shifting to a lower gear. Any sudden
changes could cause the tires to slide.
Remember: Antilock brakes help avoid only the braking skid.
Driving on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reduce vehicle traction and affect your ability to stop and accelerate. Always drive slower in these types of driving conditions and
avoid driving through large puddles and deep-standing or flowing water.
{ Warning
Wet brakes can cause crashes. They might not work as well in a quick
stop and could cause pulling to one side. You could lose control of the
vehicle.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
After driving through a large puddle of water or a car/vehicle wash,
lightly apply the brake pedal until the brakes work normally.
Flowing or rushing water creates strong forces. Driving through
flowing water could cause the
vehicle to be carried away. If this happens, you and other vehicle
occupants could drown. Do not
ignore police warnings and be very cautious about trying to drive
through flowing water.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water can build up under the vehicle's tires so
they actually ride on the water. This
can happen if the road is wet enough and you are going fast enough. When the vehicle is hydroplaning, it has
little or no contact with the road.
There is no hard and fast rule about hydroplaning. The best advice is to
slow down when the road is wet.
