Service manual

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.
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; and the condition
of your brakes.
Most drivers treat their brakes with care. Some, however, overwork the
braking system with poor driving habits.
Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive in spurts -- heavy
acceleration followed by heavy braking -- rather than keeping pace
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