Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Your Driving and the Road
Loss of Control
Let’s review what driving experts say
about what happens when the three
control systems (brakes,‘ steering and
acceleration) don’t have enough friction
where the tires meet
the road to do what
the driver has asked.
In any emergency, don’t give up. Keep
trying
to steer and constantly seek an
escape route or area of less danger.
I42
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of
the vehicle. Defensive drivers avoid
most skids
by taking reasonable care
suited
to existing conditions, and by not
“overdriving” those conditions.
But
skids are always possible.
The three types of skids correspond
to
your Chevrolet’s three control systems.
In the braking skid your wheels aren’t
rolling. In the steering
or cornering
skid, too much speed or steering
in a
curve causes tires to slip and lose
cornering force. And
in the acceleration
skid too much throttle causes the driving
wheels
to spin.
A cornering skid and an acceleration
skid are best handled by easing your
foot off the accelerator pedal. If your
vehicle starts
to slide (as when you turn
a corner on a wet, snow- or ice-covered
road), ease your foot off the accelerator
pedal as soon
as you feel the vehicle
start to slide. Quickly steer the way you
want the vehicle to
go. If you start
steering quickly enough, your vehicle
will straighten out. As
it does, straighten
the front wheels.
Of course, traction is reduced when
water, snow, ice, gravel, or other
material is
on the road. For safety, you’ll
want to
slow down and adjust your
driving to these conditions. It is
important to slow down on slippery
surfaces because stopping distance
will
be longer and vehicle control more
limited.
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Your Driving and the Road
Driving 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 Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well Here are some things you can check
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 Chevrolet dealerships all
across North America. They’ll be ready
and willing to help if you need it.
I’
before a trip:
Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the
reservoir full? Are all windows clean
inside and outside?
shape?
Have you checked all levels?
lenses clean? safe, trouble-free trip.
Is the tread
good enough for long-distance
driving? Are the tires all inflated to
the recommended pressure?
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?
Wiper Blades: Are they in good
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids:
Lights: Are they all working? Are the
Tires: They are vitally important to a
Weather Forecasts: What’s the
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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.
Highway Hypnosis
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.
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.
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.
L
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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.
problems. See the
Index under Winter
Driving.
Winter driving can present special
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.
Another part
of this manual tells how to
use your parking brake (see the
Index
under Parking Brake). 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 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.
I55
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Your Driving and the Road
i.
Parking on HiNs (COM:)
Parking Uphill
If there is a curb, turn your wheels to
the left
if the curb is at the right side of
your vehicle.
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.
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.
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine ...
Your Driving and the Road
Driving on Snow or /ce
Most of the time, those places where
your tires meet the road probably have
good traction.
However,
if there is snow or ice
between your tires and the road, you can
have a very slippery situation. You’ll
have a lot less traction or “grip” and
will need to be very careful.
What’s the worst time for this? “Wet ice.”
Very cold snow or ice can be slick
and hard to drive on. But wet ice can be
even more trouble because
it may offer
the least traction
of all. You can get
“wet ice” when it’s about freezing
(32°F; OOC) and freezing rain begins to
fall. Try to avoid driving on
wet ice
until salt and sand crews can get there.
I58
Whatever the condition-smooth ice,
packed, blowing or loose snow-drive
with caution. Accelerate gently. Try not
to break the fragile traction.
If you
accelerate too fast, the drive wheels
will
spin and polish the surface under the
tires even more.
Your anti-lock brakes inlprove your
ability
to make a hard stop on a slippery
road. Even though you have the anti-
lock braking system, you’ll want to
begin stopping sooner than you would
on dry pavement. See the
Index under
Anti-Lock Bruke System.
Allow greater following distance on
any slippery road.
9 Watch for slippery spots. The road
might be fine
until you hit a spot that’s
covered with
ice. On an otherwise
clear road, ice patches may appear
in
shaded areas where the sun can’t
reach: around clumps of trees, behind
buildings, or under bridges.
Sometimes the surface of a curve or
an overpass may remain
icy when the
surrounding roads are clear. If you see
a patch of ice ahead of
you, brake
before
you are on it. Try not to brake
while you’re actually on the ice, and
avoid sudden steering maneuvers.
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 12. Remove the cables in reverse order
to prevent electrical shorting. Take
care that they don't touch each other
or any other metal.
I
Towing Your Chevrolet
Try to have a GM dealer or a
professional towing service tow your
Chevrolet. The usual towing equipment
is:
(A) Sling-type tow truck
(B) Wheel-lift tow truck
(C) Car carrier
If your vehicle has been changed or
modified since it was factory-new by
adding aftermarket items like fog lamps,
aero skirting, or special tires and
wheels, these instructions and illustrations may not be correct.
Before you do anything, turn on the
hazard warning flashers. When
you call, tell the towing service:
That your vehicle can only be towed
with certain equipment,
as described
later
in this section.
drive.
vehicle. lever.
damaged.
That your vehicle has front-wheel
The make, model, and year of your
Whether you can still move the shift
If there was an accident, what was
When the towing service arrives, let the
tow operator know that this manual
contains detailed towing instructions and
illustrations.
The operator may want to see them.
I69
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Problems on the Road
bwing Your Chevrolet (CONI)
To help avoid injury to you or
lers:
a Never let passengers ride in a
vehicle that is being towed.
a Never tow faster than safe or
posted speeds.
* Never tow with damaged parts
not fully secured.
* Never get under your vehicle after
it
has been lifted by the tow truck.
* Always use separate safety
chains on each side when towing
a vehicle.
Never use
“J” hooks. Use T-
hooks instead.
the ignition key off. The steering wheel
should be clamped
in a straight-ahead
position,
with a clamping device designed
for towing service. Do not use the
vehicle’s steering column lock for this.
The transaxle should be
in Neutral, and
the parking brake released.
Don’t have your vehicle towed on the
front wheels, unless
you must. If the
vehicle must be towed on the front wheels,
don’t go more than
35 mph (56 km/h) or
farther than
50 miles (80 km) or your
transaxle will be damaged. If these
limits must be exceeded, then
the front
wheels have to be supported on a dolly.
p-AU I IUN I
A vehicle can fall from a car
carrier if it isn’t properly
secured. This can cause a
collision, serious personal injury
and vehicle damage. The vehicle
should be tightly secured with
chains or steel cables before it is
transported.
Don’t use substitutes (ropes,
leather straps, canvas webbing,
etc.) that can be cut
by sharp edges
underneath
the towed vehicle.
A
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