Oldsmobile 2000 Bravada - Manual (Page 170)

4-15
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.
Operating Your Vehicle Off
Paved Roads
Many of the same design features that help make your
vehicle responsive on paved roads during poor weather
conditions
-- features like the locking rear axle and
all - wheel drive -- help make it much better suited for
off - road use than a conventional passenger car. Its higher
ground clearance also helps your vehicle step over some
off
- road obstacles. But your vehicle doesn’t have features
like special underbody shielding and a transfer case low
gear range, things that are usually thought necessary for
extended or severe off
- road service. This guide is for
operating your vehicle off paved roads.
Also, see “Anti - Lock Brakes” in the Index.
Off - road driving can be great fun. But it does have some
definite hazards. The greatest of these is the terrain itself.
“Off - roading” means you’ve left the great North
American road system behind. Traffic lanes aren’t
marked. Curves aren’t banked. There are no road signs.
Surfaces can be slippery, rough, uphill or downhill. In
short, you’ve gone right back to nature.
Off - road driving involves some new skills. And that’s
why it’s very important that you read this guide. You’ll
find many driving tips and suggestions. These will help
make your off
- road driving safer and more enjoyable.