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Switch on your turn signal, check your rearview mirrors as you move
along, and glance over your shoulder as often as necessary.
Try to blend
smoothly with the traffic flow. c-
_I Driving on the Freeway
Once you are on the freeway, adjust your speed to the posted limit or to
-- the prevailing rate if it’s slower. Stay in the right lane unless you want to
pass.
If you are on a two-lane freeway, treat the right lane as the slow lane
and the left lane as the passing lane.
through lane, the middle lane as the higher-speed through lane, and the
left lane as the passing lane.
- If you are on a three-lane freeway, treat the right lane as the slower-speed
L_ Before changing lanes, check your rearview mirrors. Then use your turn
signal.
Just before you leave the lane, glance quickly over your shoulder to make
sure there isn’t another vehicle in your “blind” spot.
If you are moving from an outside to
a center lane on a freeway having
more than two lanes, make sure another vehicle isn’t about to move into
the same spot. Look at the vehicles
two lanes over and watch for telltale
signs: turn signals flashing, an increase in speed, or moving toward the
edge
of the lane. Be prepared to delay your move.
-
._.
_I
Once you are moving on the freeway, make certain you allow a
reasonable following distance. Expect to move slightly slower at night.
c_
Leaving the Freeway
When you want to leave the freeway, move to the proper lane well in
__ advance. Dashing across lanes at the last minute is dangerous. If you miss
your exit do not, under any circumstances, stop and back up. Drive on to
the next exit.
- At each exit point is a deceleration lane. Ideally it should be long enough
for you to enter it at freeway speed (after signaling, of course) and then
do your braking before moving onto the exit ramp. Unfortunately, not all
braking. Decide when to start braking.
If you must brake on the through
lane, and
if there is traffic close behind you, you can allow a little extra
- deceleration lanes are long enough -- some are too short for all the
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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.
-.
U t I! 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 h/h) might seem like only 20 mph c_?
(30 km/h). Obviously, this could lead to serious trouble on a ramp
designed for
20 mph (30 kmih)!
I
L/
DRIVTNG 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 TRlP
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.
.3
I
F i ! u
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
7
willing to help if you need it. -1
Here are some things you can check before a trip:
Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir full? Are all windows clean
inside and outside?
Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?
0 Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked all levels?
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine - 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?
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
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.
- others. Limit turns behind the wheel to about 100 miles (160 km) or two
- ._
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.
-
-
HIGWAY HYPNOSIS
c_
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.
happen.
__
- What can you do about highway hypnosis? First, be aware that it can
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Then here are some tips:
0
0
0
0
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.
1
U
I'
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.
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.
Pl
As in any driving situation, keep pace with traffic and allow adequate
following distances.
HILL AND MOUNTMN ROADS
r
Driving on steep hills or mountains is different from driving in flat or
rolling terrain.
n
i
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine c 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.
Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid levels and also the
brakes, tires, cooling system and transmission. These parts can work
hard on mountain roads.
0 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_ I
I
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
engine assist your brakes on
a steep downhill slope.
I
A CAUTION:
- I Coasting downhill in “N” (Neutral) or with the ignition off is
dangerous. Your brakes
will have to do all the work of slowing
down. They could get
so hot that they wouldn’t work well. You
could crash. Always have your engine running and your vehicle
in gear when you go downhill.
I
Know how to go uphill. You may want to shift down to a lower gear.
The lower gears help cool your engine and transmission, and you can
e.-- climb the hill better.
,-
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.
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It takes longer to pass another vehicle when you’re going uphill. You’ll
want to leave extra room
to pass. If a vehicle is passing you and 7.1
doesn’t have enough room, slow down to make it easier for the other
vehicle to get by.
As you go over the top of a hill, be alert. There could be something in, 1
your lane, like a stalled car or an accident.
Lg
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 “Winter Driving” in
the Index.
Parking on Hills
n
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. -.
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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
Parking Uphill
t -I
d
Turn your wheels to
the right.
You don’t have to jam
your tires against the
curb,
if there is a curb.
A gentle contact is all
you need.
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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I
If you’re going uphill
on a one-way street
and you’re parking on
the left side, your
wheels should point to
the right.
If there is no curb
when you’re parking
uphill, turn the wheels
to the right.
Q
Q
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 Transmission)
If you are parking on a hill and you don’t shift your transmission into “P”
(Park) properly, the weight of the vehicle may put too much force on the
parking pawl in the transmission. 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.
202