Buick Regal: Loss of Control - Driving Information - Driving and Operating - Buick Regal Owners ManualBuick Regal: Loss of Control

Let us review what driving experts say about what happens when the three control systems—brakes, steering, and acceleration—do not have enough friction where the tires meet the road to do what the driver has asked.

In any emergency, do not give up.

Keep trying to steer and constantly seek an escape route or area of less danger.

Skidding

In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle. Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonable care suited to existing conditions, and by not overdriving those conditions. But skids are always possible.

The three types of skids correspond to the vehicle's three control systems. In the braking skid, the wheels are not rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, too much speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip and lose cornering force.

And in the acceleration skid, too much throttle causes the driving wheels to spin.

If the 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, the 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, slow down and adjust your driving to these conditions. It is important to slow down on slippery surfaces because stopping distance is longer and vehicle control more limited.

While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try to avoid sudden steering, acceleration, or braking, including reducing vehicle speed by shifting to a lower gear. Any sudden changes could cause the tires to slide. You might not realize the surface is slippery until the 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: Antilock brakes help avoid only the braking skid.

    Off-Road Recovery
    The vehicle's right wheels can drop off the edge of a road onto the shoulder while driving. If the level of the shoulder is only slightly below the pavement, recovery should be fairly easy. Ease o ...

    Driving on Wet Roads
    Rain and wet roads can reduce vehicle traction and affect your ability to stop and accelerate. Always drive slower in these types of driving conditions and avoid driving through large puddles and dee ...

    See also:

    Winter driving
    More severe weather conditions of winter result in greater wear and other problems. To minimize winter driving problem, you should follow these suggestions: ...

    Steering lock
    After turning the “ENGINE START STOP” switch off and opening and closing the doors, the steering wheel will be locked due to the steering lock function. Operating the “ENGINE START STOP” sw ...

    Precautions against vehicle modification
    WARNING To avoid accidental activation of the system or rendering the system inoperative, which may result in serious injury, no modifications should be made to any components or wiring of the SR ...