Winter driving – Saturn 2009 ASTRA User Manual

Page 173

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Top of hills: Be alert — something
could be in your lane (stalled car,
accident).

Pay attention to special road
signs (falling rocks area, winding
roads, long grades, passing or
no-passing zones) and take
appropriate action.

Winter Driving

Driving on Snow or Ice

Drive carefully when there is snow
or ice between the tires and the
road, creating less traction or grip.
Wet ice can occur at about 32°F
(0°C) when freezing rain begins to
fall, resulting in even less traction.
Avoid driving on wet ice or in
freezing rain until roads can be
treated with salt or sand.

Drive with caution, whatever the
condition. Accelerate gently
so traction is not lost. Accelerating
too quickly causes the wheels
to spin and makes the surface under
the tires slick, so there is even
less traction.

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.

The Antilock Brake System (ABS)
on page 8-18 improves vehicle
stability during hard stops on
a slippery roads, but apply the
brakes sooner than when on
dry pavement.

Allow greater following distance
on any slippery road and watch for
slippery spots. Icy patches can occur
on otherwise clear roads in shaded
areas. The surface of a curve or an
overpass can remain icy when the
surrounding roads are clear. Avoid
sudden steering maneuvers and
braking while on ice.

Turn off cruise control, if equipped,
on slippery surfaces.

Driving and Operating

8-27

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