Hazardous driving conditions
When hazardous driving elements are encountered such as water, snow, ice, mud and sand, take the following precautions:
WARNING
Rocking the vehicle
If it is necessary to rock the vehicle to free it from snow, sand, or mud, first turn the steering wheel right and left to clear the area around your front wheels. Then, shift back and forth between R (Reverse) and forward gear.
Try to avoid spinning the wheels, and do not race the engine. To prevent transmission wear, wait until the wheels stop spinning before shifting gears. Release the accelerator pedal while shifting, and press lightly on the accelerator pedal while the transmission is in gear. Slowly spinning the wheels in forward and reverse directions causes a rocking motion that may free the vehicle.
WARNING
If the vehicle is stuck and excessive wheelspin occurs, the temperature in the tires can increase very quickly. If the tires become damaged, a tire blowout or tire explosion can occur. This condition is dangerous – you and others may be injured. Do not attempt this procedure if people or objects are anywhere near the vehicle. If you attempt to free the vehicle, the vehicle can overheat quickly, possibly causing an engine compartment fire or other damage. Try to avoid spinning the wheels as much as possible to prevent overheating of either the tires or the engine. DO NOT allow the vehicle to spin the wheels above 35 mph (56 km/h).
Information
NOTICE
If you are still stuck after rocking the vehicle a few times, have the vehicle pulled out by a tow vehicle to avoid engine overheating, possible damage to the transmission, and tire damage. See “Towing” section in chapter 8.
Smooth cornering
Avoid braking or gear changing in corners, especially when roads are wet. Ideally, corners should always be taken under gentle acceleration.
Driving at night
Night driving presents more hazards than driving in the daylight. Here are some important tips to remember:
Driving in the rain
Rain and wet roads can make driving dangerous. Here are a few things to consider when driving in the rain or on slick pavement:
Hydroplaning
If the road is wet enough and you are going fast enough, your vehicle may have little or no contact with the road surface and actually ride on the water. The best advice is SLOW DOWN when the road is wet.
The risk of hydroplaning increases as the depth of tire tread decreases, refer to “Tire Tread” section in chapter 9.
Driving in flooded areas
Avoid driving through flooded areas unless you are sure the water is no higher than the bottom of the wheel hub. Drive through any water slowly. Allow adequate stopping distance because brake performance may be reduced. After driving through water, dry the brakes by gently applying them several times while the vehicle is moving slowly.
Highway driving
Tires
Information
Never over-inflate your tires above the maximum inflation pressure, as specified on your tires.
Fuel, engine coolant and engine oil
Driving at higher speeds on the highway consumes more fuel and is less efficient than driving at a slower, more moderate speed. Maintain a moderate speed in order to conserve fuel when driving on the highway.
Be sure to check both the engine coolant level and the engine oil before driving.
Drive belt
A loose or damaged drive belt may overheat the engine
Reducing the risk of a rollover
Your multi-purpose passenger vehicle is defined as a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV). SUV’s have higher ground clearance and a narrower track to make them capable of performing in a wide variety of off-road applications. The specific design characteristics give them a higher center of gravity than ordinary vehicles making them more likely to roll over if you make abrupt turns. Utility vehicles have a significantly higher rollover rate than other types of vehicles. Due to this risk, driver and passengers are strongly recommended to buckle their seat belts. In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is significantly more likely to die than a person wearing a seat belt.
There are steps that a driver can make to reduce the risk of a rollover. If at all possible, avoid sharp turns or abrupt maneuvers, do not load your vehicle with heavy cargo on the roof, and never modify your vehicle in any way.
WARNING
Utility vehicles have a significantly higher rollover rate than other types of vehicles. To prevent rollovers or loss of control:
WARNING
In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is significantly more likely to die than a person wearing a seat belt. Make sure all passengers are wearing their seat belts.
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