Chevrolet Spark Owners Manual: Braking

Chevrolet Spark Owners Manual / Driving and Operating / Driving Information / 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-quarters 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.

Drunk Driving

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Steering

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Emergency
With Automatic Crash Response, the OnStar system can automatically connect to an OnStar Emergency Advisor. The built-in system can automatically connect to help in certain crashes. Press to connect to an OnStar Emergency Advisor. GPS technology is used to identify the vehicle location and ca ...

Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through mountains is different than driving on flat or rolling terrain. Tips for driving in these conditions include: Keep the vehicle serviced and in good shape. Check all fluid levels and brakes, tires, cooling system, and transmission. Shift to a lower gear whe ...

Head Restraint Removal and Reinstallation
The rear outboard head restraints can be removed if they interfere with the proper installation of the child restraint. To remove the head restraint: Partially fold the seatback forward. See Rear Seats on page 3-8 for additional information. Press both buttons on the head restrai ...