1995 CADILLAC DEVILLE Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try Vour best to avoid
sudden steering, acceleration?
or braking (including engine braking by
shifting to a lower gear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires to
slide. You may not realize the surfdce is slippery until your vehicle is
skidding.
Leain to recognize warning clues -- such as enough water, ice or
packed snow on the road to make a “mirrored surface” -- and slow down
when
you have any doubt.
Remember:
Any anti-lock brake system (ABS) helps avoid only the
braking L. skid.
DRIVING AT NIGHT
Night driving is more dangerous than day driving. One reason is that some
drivers are likely to be impaired -- by alcohol or drugs, with night vision
problems,
or by fatigue.
Here are some tips on night driving.
0 Drive defensively.
0 Don’t drink and drive.
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Adjust your inside rearview mirror to reduce the glare from headlamps
behind you.
Since you can‘t see
as well, you may need to slow down and keep more
space between
you and other vehicles.
Slow down, especially on higher speed roads. Your headlamps can
light up only
so much road ahead.
In remote areas, watch for animals.
If you’re tired, pull off the road in a safe place and rest.
Night Vision
No one can see as well at night as in the daytime. But as we get older
these differences increase. A 50-year-old driver may require at least twice
as much light to see the same thing at night as a 20-year-old.
What
you do in the daytime can also affect your night vision. For example,
if you spend the day in bright sunshine you are wise to wear sunglasses.
Your eyes
will have less trouble adjusting to night. But if you’re driving,
don’t wear sunglasses at night. They may cut down on glare from
headlamps, but they also make a lot of things invisible.
You can be temporarily blinded
bv approaching lights. It can take a
second or two, or even several seconds, for your eves to readjust to the
dark. When
YOU are faced with severe glare (as frim a driver who doesn’t
lower the
high beams, or a vehicle with misaimed headlamps), slow down
a little. Avoid staring directly into the approaching lights.
Keep
your windshield and all the glass on your vehicle clean -- inside and
out. Glare at night is made much worse
by dirt on the glass. Even the
inside
of the glass can build up a film caused by dust. Dirty glass makes
lights dazzle and flash more than clean glass would, making the pupils of
your eyes contract repeatedly.
Remember that your headlamps light up far
less of a roadway when you
are in a turn or curve. Keep your eyes moving; that way, it’s easier to pick
out dimly lighted objects. Just as
your headlamps should be checked
regularly for proper aim,
so should your eyes be examined regularly.
Some drivers suffer
from night blindness -- the inability to see in dim
light
-- and aren’t even aware of it.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine DMNG IN THE RAIN
Rain and wet roads can mean driving trouble. On a wet road you can't
stop, accelerate or
turn as well because your tire-to-road traction isn't as
good as on dry roads. And, if your tires don't have much tread left, you'll
get even less traction. It's dwa~s wise to go slower and be cautious if rain
starts to fall while
you are driving. The surface may get wet suddenly when
your reflexes ;u'e tuned for driving on dry pavcment.
The heavier the rain, the harder it is to see. Even if your windshield wiper
blades are in
good shape, a heavy rain can make it harder to see road
signs and traffic signals, pavement markings, the edge of the road. and
cven peoplc walking.
It's wise to keep vour wiping quiptnent in good shape and keep your
windshield wash&
tank filled. Replace your windshield wiper inserts when
they show signs c. of streaking or missing areas on the windshield, or when
strips
of rubber start to separatc from the inserts.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Hydrupluning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much water can build up under your tires
that they can actually ride
on the water. This can happen if the road is wet
enough and you’re going fast enough. When your vehicle
is hydroplaning,
it has little or no contact with the road.
Hydroplaning doesn’t happen often. But it can if your tires haven‘t much
tread or
if the pressure in one or more is low. It can happen if a lot of
water
is standing on the road. If you can see reflections from trees,
telephone poles,
or other vehicles, and raindrops ‘‘dimple’‘ the water‘s
surface, there could be hydroplaning.
Hydroplaning
usually happens at higher speeds. There just isn‘t a hard
and fast
rule about hydroplaning. The best advice is to slow down when it
is raining.
Some Other Rainy Weather Tips
0 Turn on your low beam headlamps -- not just your parking lamps -- to
help
make you more visible to others.
Besides slowing down, allow some extra following distance. And be
especially careful when you pass another vehicle. Allow yourself more
clear
room ahead, and be prepared to have your view restricted by
road spray.
Have good tires with proper tread depth. (See “Tires” in the Index.)
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine CITYDRIVING
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One of the biggest problems with city streets is the amount of traffic on
them. You’ll want to watch out for what the other drivers are doing and
pay attention to traffic signals.
Here are ways to increase your safety
in city driving:
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Know the best way to get to where you are going. Gct a city map and
pian your trip into an unknown part
of the city just as you would for a
cross-country trip.
Try to use the freeways that rim and crisscross most large cities. You’ll
save time and energy. (See the next part, “Freeway Driving.”)
Treat
a green light as a warning signal. A traffic light is there because
the corner
is busy enough to need it. When a light turns green, and just
before you start to move, check both ways for vehicles that have
not
cleared the intersection or may be running the red light.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine FREEWAYDRM-NG
Mile for mile, freeways (also called thruways, parkways, expressways,
turnpikes, or superhighways) are the safest of all roads. But they have
their own special rules.
The
most important advice on freeway driving is: Keep up with traffic and
keep
to the right. Drive at the same speed most of the other drivers are
driving. Too-fast
or too-slow driving breaks a smooth traffic flow. Treat
the left lane on a freeway as a passing lane.
At
the entrance there is usually a ramp that leads to the freeway. If you
have a clear view of the freeway as you drive along the entrance ramp, you
should begin
to check traffic. Try to determine where you expect to blend
with the flow. Try to merge into the gap at close to the prevailing speed.
Switch
on your turn signal, check your mirrors and glance over your
shoulder as often as necessary.
Try to blend smoothly with the traffic flow.
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.
Before changing lanes, check your 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.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Once you are moving on the freeway, make certain you allow a reasonable
following distance. Expect
to move slightly slower at night.
When
you want to leave the freeway, move to the proper lane well in
advance. If vou miss your exit do not, under any circumstances, stop and
back
up. Dr& on tolthe ncst exit.
The exit
ramp can be cuwed, sometimes quite sharply.
The exit
speed is usually posted.
BEFORE LEAUNG ON A LONG TRIP
Make sure vou're ready. Try to be well rested. If vou must start when
you're not iresh -- such as aftcr a day's work -- d6n.t plan to make too
many miles that first part of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and
shoes
you can easily driw in.
Is vour vehicle ready for a long trip'! If you keep it stlnliced and
miintained, 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:
Wirdd1ield Woslter Fluid: Is the reservoir full'? Are all windows clean
inside
and outside?
Tires: They are vitally important to a safe, trouble-free trip, Is the tread
good enough for long-distancc driving? Are thc tires all inflated to the
recornnxnded pressure'?
Should you
delay your trip a short time to avoid a major storm system'?
Weather Fomusts: What's the weather outlook along your route?
Mcq~s: Do you have up-to-date maps?
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