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:

    DIC Compass
    Your vehicle may have a compass in the Driver Information Center (DIC). The information below explains how to operate this feature in the DIC. If your vehicle has a compass in the mirror, see C ...

    Door Locks
    CAUTION: Unlocked doors can be dangerous. • Passengers, especially children, can easily open the doors and fall out of a moving vehicle. When a door is locked, the handle will not open it. ...

    Console Shift
    If the console shifter cannot be moved out of P (Park) 1. Apply and maintain the regular brakes. 2. Turn the ignition to ON/RUN position. See Ignition Positions for more information. 3. Let up o ...