Control of a VehicleYou have three systems that make your vehicle go whereyou want it to go. They are the brakes, the steering, andthe accelerator. All three systems have to do their work atthe places where the tires meet the road.Sometimes, as when you are driving on snow or ice, it iseasy to ask more of those control systems than the tiresand road can provide. That means you can lose control ofyour vehicle. See Traction Control System (TCS) (CTS)on page 4-9 or Traction Control System (TCS) (CTS-V)on page 4-10.Adding non-GM accessories can affect your vehicle’sperformance. See Accessories and Modificationson page 5-3.BrakingSee Brake System Warning Light on page 3-38.Braking action involves perception time andreaction time.First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal.That is perception time. Then you have to bring up yourfoot and do it. That is reaction time.Average reaction time is about three-fourths of asecond. But that is only an average. It might be lesswith one driver and as long as two or three seconds ormore with another. Age, physical condition, alertness,coordination, and eyesight all play a part. So do alcohol,drugs, and frustration. But even in three-fourths of asecond, a vehicle moving at 60 mph (100 km/h) travels66 feet (20 m). That could be a lot of distance in anemergency, so keeping enough space betweenyour vehicle and others is important.And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatlywith the surface of the road, whether it is pavementor gravel; the condition of the road, whether it iswet, dry, or icy; tire tread; the condition of your brakes;the weight of the vehicle; and the amount of brakeforce applied.4-6
