Chevrolet 2001 Impala Owner's Manual download pdf (Page 222)

100

101

4-6

Control of a Vehicle

You have three systems that make your vehicle go where

you want it to go. They are the brakes, the steering and

the accelerator. All three systems have to do their work

at the places where the tires meet the road.

Sometimes, as when you’re driving on snow or ice, it’s

easy to ask more of those control systems than the tires

and road can provide. That means you can lose control

of your vehicle. Also see “Traction Control System” in

the Index.

Braking

Braking action involves perception time and

reaction time.

First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal.

That’s perception time. Then you have to bring up your

foot and do it. That’s reaction time.

Average reaction time is about 3/4 of a second. But

that’s only an average. It might be less with one driver

and as long as two or three seconds or more with

another. Age, physical condition, alertness, coordination

and eyesight all play a part. So do alcohol, drugs and

frustration. But even in 3/4 of a second, a vehicle

moving at 60 mph (100 km/h) travels 66 feet (20 m).

That could be a lot of distance in an emergency, so

keeping enough space between your vehicle and others

is important.

And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly

with the surface of the road (whether it’s pavement or

gravel); the condition of the road (wet, dry, icy); tire

tread; the condition of your brakes; the weight of the

vehicle and the amount of brake force applied.

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Chevrolet 2001 Impala Owner's Manual Page 222

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