2000 Cadillac Catera Owners Manual

SkiddingIn a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonablecare suited to existing conditions, and by not“overdriving” those conditions. But skids arealways possible.The three types of skids correspond to your vehicle’sthree control systems. In the braking skid, your wheelsaren’t rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, toomuch speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip andlose cornering force. And in the acceleration skid, toomuch throttle causes the driving wheels to spin.A cornering skid is best handled by easing your foot offthe accelerator pedal.Remember: Any traction control system helps avoidonly the acceleration skid.If your traction control system is off, then anacceleration skid is also best handled by easing yourfoot off the accelerator pedal.If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off theaccelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you wantthe vehicle to go. If you start steering quickly enough,your vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for asecond skid if it occurs.Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice,gravel or other material is on the road. For safety, you’llwant to slow down and adjust your driving to theseconditions. It is important to slow down on slipperysurfaces because stopping distance will be longer andvehicle control more limited.While driving on a surface with reduced traction, tryyour best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration orbraking (including engine braking by shifting to a lowergear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires to slide.You may not realize the surface is slippery until yourvehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warningclues -- such as enough water, ice or packed snow onthe road to make a “mirrored surface” -- and slowdown when you have any doubt.Remember: Any anti-lock brake system (ABS) helpsavoid only the braking skid.4-15