Braking

Braking action involves perception time and reaction time. Deciding to push the brake pedal is perception time. Actually doing it is reaction time.

Average driver reaction time is about three-fourths of a second. In that time, a vehicle moving at 100 km/h (60 mph) travels 20m (66 ft), which could be a lot of distance in an emergency.

Helpful braking tips to keep in mind include:

• Keep enough distance between you and the vehicle in front of you.

• Avoid needless heavy braking.

• Keep pace with traffic.

If the engine ever stops while the vehicle is being driven, brake normally but do not pump the brakes. Doing so could make the pedal harder to push down. If the engine stops, there will be some power brake assist but it will be used when the brake is applied.

Once the power assist is used up, it can take longer to stop and the brake pedal will be harder to push.

    See also:

    Entering the Personalization Menus
    1. Press CONFIG to access the Configuration Settings menu. 2. Turn the TUNE/MENU knob to highlight Vehicle Settings. Press the CONFIG button until Vehicle is highlighted on vehicles with a navigati ...

    Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror
    On vehicles with an automatic dimming inside rearview mirror the automatic dimming reduces the glare from the headlamps of the vehicle behind you. Vehicles with OnStar have three control bu ...

    Safety Belt Pretensioners
    Your vehicle has safety belt pretensioners for the driver and right front passenger. Although you cannot see them, they are part of the safety belt assembly. They help tighten the safety belts in ...