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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine time and flash your brake lights (in addition to your turn signal) as extra
warning that you are about to slow down and exit.
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.
The exit speed is usually posted. Reduce your speed according to your
speedometer, not to your sense
of motion. After driving for any distance
at higher speeds,
you may tend to think you are going slower than you
actually are. For example,
40 mph (65 kmh) might seem like only 20 mph
(30 krn/h). Obviously, this could lead to serious trouble on a ramp
designed
for 20 mph (30 km/h)!
DmNG A LONG DISTANCE
Although most long trips today are made on freeways, there are still
many made
on regular highways.
Long-distance driving on freeways and regular highways is the same in
some ways. The trip has to be planned and the vehicle prepared, you
drive at higher-than-city speeds, and there are longer turns behind the
wheel. You’ll enjoy your trip more if you and your vehicle are in good
shape. Here are some tips for a successful long trip.
BEFORE LEAWNG ONA LONG TMP
Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well rested. If you must start when
you’re not fresh
-- such as after a day’s work -- don’t plan to make too
many miles that first part of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and
shoes you can easily drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it serviced and
maintained, it’s ready to go. If it needs service, have it done before
starting out.
Of course, you’ll find experienced and able service experts in
Cadillac dealerships all across North America. They’ll be ready and
willing to help if you need it.
Here are some things you can check before a trip:
Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir full? Are all windows clean
inside and outside?
0 Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked all levels?
c
204
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 0 Lights: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
0 Tires: They are vitally important to a safe, trouble-free trip. Is the
tread good enough for long-distance driving? Are the tires all inflated
to the recommended pressure?
0 Weather Forecasts: What’s the weather outlook along your route?
Should you delay your trip a short time
to avoid a major storm
system?
Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?
ON THE ROAD
Unless you are the only driver, it is good to share the driving task with
others. Limit turns behind the wheel to about
100 miles (160 km) or two
hours at a sitting. Then, either change drivers or stop for some
refreshment like coffee, tea or soft drinks and some limbering up. But do
stop and move around. Eat lightly along the
way. Heavier meals tend to
make some people sleepy.
On two-lane highways or undivided multilane highways that
do not have
___ controlled access, you’ll want to watch for some situations not usually
found on freeways. Examples are: stop signs and signals, shopping centers
with direct access to the highway, no passing zones and school zones,
vehicles turning left and right off the road, pedestrians, cyclists, parked
vehicles, and even animals.
HIGHFKAY HIPNOSIS
Is there actually such a condition as “highway hypnosis”? Or is it just
plain falling asleep at the wheel? Call it highway hypnosis, lack of
__ awareness, or whatever.
There is something about an easy stretch
of road with the same scenery,
along with the hum
of the tires on the road, the drone of the engine, and
the rush
of the wind against the vehicle that can make you sleepy. Don’t
let it happen to you! If it does, your vehicle can leave the road in less than
a second, and you could crash and be injured.
What can you do about highway hypnosis? First, be aware that it can
happen.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Then here are some tips:
Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with a comfortably cool
interior.
Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead and to the sides. Check
your rearview mirrors frequently and your instruments from time to
time. This can help you avoid a fixed stare.
Wear good sunglasses in bright light. Glare can cause drowsiness. But
don't wear sunglasses
at night. They will drastically reduce your
overall vision at the very time you need all the seeing power you have.
0 If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest, service, or parking area
and take a nap, get some exercise, or both. For safety, treat drowsiness
on the highway as an emergency.
As in any driving situation, keep pace with traffic and allow adequate
following distances.
HILL AND MOUNTMN ROADS
U
Driving on steep hills or mountains is different from driving in flat or
rolling terrain.
Page 220 of 406

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine .- If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you’re planning to visit there,
here are some tips that can make your trips safer and more enjoyable.
0
0 Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid levels and also the
brakes, tires, cooling system and transaxle. These parts can work hard
on mountain roads.
Know how to go down hills. The most important thing to know is this:
let your engine do some
of the slowing down. Don’t make your brakes
do it all. Shift to
a lower gear when you go down a steep or long hill.
That way, you will slow down without excessive use of your brakes.
I
A CAUTION:
If you don’t shift down, your brakes could get so hot that they
wouldn’t work well. You would then have poor braking
or even
none going down a hill. You could crash. Shift down to let your
enginc ssist your brakes on a steep downhill slope.
- A ‘CAUTION:
Coasting downhill in “N” (Neutral) or with the ignition off is
dangerous. Your brakes will have to do all the work of sllowing
down. They could get so hot that they wouldn’t work well. You
could crash. Always have your engine running and your vehicle
i :ea when yo1 ,a downhill,
0 Know how to go uphill. Shift down to “3” (Drive). This will help cool
your engine and transaxle, and you can climb the hill better.
- 0 Stay in your own lane when driving on two-lane roads in hills or
mountains. Don’t swing wide or cut across the center
of the road.
Drive at speeds that let you stay in your own lane. That way, you won’t
be surprised by a vehicle coming toward you
in the same lane.
207
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine e
0
a
0
It takes longer to pass another vehicle when you're going uphill. You'll c_
want to leave extra room to pass. If a vehicle is passing you and
doesn't have enough room, slow down to make
it easier for the other
vehicle to get by. L 4.
As you go over the top of a hill, be alert. There could be something in
your lane, like a stalled car or an accident.
You may see highway signs
on mountains that warn of special
problems. Examples are long grades, passing or no-passing zones, a
falling rocks area,
or winding roads. Be alert to these and take
appropriate action.
Winter driving can present special problems. See Index under
"Winter Driving."
Parking on Hills
Hills and mountains mean spectacular scenery. But please be careful
where you stop
if you decide to look at the view or take pictures. Look for -
pull-offs or parking areas provided for scenic viewing.
Page 222 of 406
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine - Another part of this manual tells how to use your parking brake (see
“Parking Brake” in the Index). But on a mountain or steep hill, you can
do one more thing. You can turn your front wheels to keep your vehicle
from rolling downhill or out into traffic.
Here’s how: -
Parking Downhill
Turn your
the right. wheels
to
I_ You don’t have to jam your tires against the curb, if there is a curb. A
gentle contact is all you need.
209
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Parking Uphill
If there is a curb, turn
your wheels
to the left
if the curb is at the
right side
of your
vehicle.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If there is no curb
when you’re parking
uphill, turn the wheels
to the right.
If there is no curb when you’re parking uphill on the left side of a
one-way street, your wheels should be turned to the left.
Torque Lock (Automatic Transaxle)
If you are parking on a hill and you don’t shift your transaxle into “P”
(Park) properly, the weight of the vehicle may put too much force on the
parking pawl in the transaxle. You may find it difficult to pull the shift
lever out
of “P” (Park). This is called “torque lock.’’ To prevent torque
lock, always be sure to shift into “P” (Park) properly before you leave the
driver’s seat. To find out how, see “Shifting Into
“P” (Park)” in the Index.
If “torque lock” does occur, you may need to have another vehicle push
yours
a little uphill to take some of the pressure from the transaxle, so
you can pull the shift lever out of “P” (Park).