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Passing
Passing another vehicle on a
two-lane road can be dangerous.
To reduce the risk of danger
while passing:
• Look down the road, to the sides,
and to crossroads for situations
that might affect a successful
pass. If in doubt, wait.
• Watch for traffic signs, pavement
markings, and lines that could
indicate a turn or an intersection.
Never cross a solid or
double-solid line on your side of
the lane.
• Do not get too close to the
vehicle you want to pass. Doing
so can reduce your visibility.
• Wait your turn to pass a slow
vehicle.
• When you are being passed,
ease to the right.
Loss of Control
Let us review what driving experts
say about what happens when
the three control systems — brakes,
steering, and acceleration — do
not have enough friction where the
tires meet the road to do what
the driver has asked.
In any emergency, do not give up.
Keep trying to steer and constantly
seek an escape route or area of
less danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control
of the vehicle. Defensive drivers
avoid most skids by taking
reasonable care suited to existing
conditions, and by not overdriving
those conditions. But skids are
always possible.
The three types of skids correspond
to your vehicle’s three control
systems. In the braking skid, the
wheels are not 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.
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 want to slow down and
adjust your driving to these
conditions. It is important to slow
down on slippery surfaces because
stopping distance is longer and
vehicle control more limited.
Driving and Operating 8-21
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual