UNIT 6VEHICLE HANDLINGTHE EFFECT OF CONDITIONS

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TractionWhat is traction?Traction is the contact between the tires and the road surface on

which it is moving, without which the object cannot move. Traction is affected by:

Weather: ice, snow, water on the road surface Tire tread and pressure and weight of the vehicle Material of the road surfaceWithout traction: Your vehicle cannot move You cannot accelerate or decelerate You cannot maintain control on turnsLow traction means you will need more space to stop!

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Slide 6.1

FrictionFriction occurs whenever two objects rub against

each other; in driving, your wheels move against the road surface.

Friction occurs at all times, even when you are not accelerating.

Friction is reduced: By ice, snow, water on the road surface By low tire tread By some materials of the road surface

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Slide 6.2

Skidding and Sliding

What is skidding?A skid happens when your wheels slide out of control on a

slippery surface. Skids can involve the front, rear or all four wheels.

What causes skidding? driving too fast for road or traffic conditions sudden, hard braking going too fast around a corner accelerating too quickly

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Slide 6.3

Skidding and Sliding

If you skid…Look where you want the vehicle to go and steer in that direction. If you are on ice, skidding in a straight line, step on the clutch or shift to neutral.

Preventing a skid when you must brake sharply: Threshold braking — Brake as hard as you can. If you

feel any of the wheels locking up, release the brake pressure slightly and re-apply. Continue braking this way until you have brought the vehicle to a complete stop.

Anti-lock brakes — Anti-lock brake systems give you maximum threshold stop automatically.

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Slide 6.4