GMC 2001 Jimmy, Owner'S Manual, Page: 231 / 448

4-15
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’ll want to slow down and adjust your driving to
these conditions. It is important to slow down on
slippery surfaces because stopping distance will be
longer and vehicle control more limited.
While driving on a surface with reduced traction,
try your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration
or braking (including engine braking by shifting to a
lower gear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires
to slide. You may not realize the surface is slippery until
your vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning
clues
--
such as enough water, ice or packed snow on
the road to make a “mirrored surface”
--
and slow
down when you have any doubt.
Remember: Any anti
-
lock brake system (ABS) helps
avoid only the braking skid.
Off
-
Road Driving with Your
Four
-
Wheel
-
Drive Vehicle
This off
-
road guide is for vehicles that have
four
-
wheel drive.
Also, see “Anti
-
Lock Brakes” in the Index.
If your vehicle doesn’t have four
-
wheel drive, you
shouldn’t drive off
-
road unless you’re on a level,
solid surface.
Off
-
road driving can be great fun. But it does have
some definite hazards. The greatest of these is the
terrain itself.
“Off
-
roading” means you’ve left the great North
American road system behind. Traffic lanes aren’t
marked. Curves aren’t banked. There are no road signs.
Surfaces can be slippery, rough, uphill or downhill.
In short, you’ve gone right back to nature.
Off
-
road driving involves some new skills. And that’s
why it’s very important that you read this guide. You’ll
find many driving tips and suggestions. These will help
make your off
-
road driving safer and more enjoyable.