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0 Do not get too close to the vehicle you want to pass
while you’re awaiting an opportunity. For one thing,
foIl’owing too closely reduces your area of vision,
especially if you’re following a larger vehicle, Also,
you won’t have adequate space if the vehicle ahead
suddenly slows
or stops. Keep back a reasonable
distance.
When it looks like a chance to pass is coming up,
start to accelerate but stay in the right lane and don’t
get too close. Time your move
so you will be
increasing speed as the time comes to move into the
other lane. If the way is clear to pass, you will have a
“running start” that more than makes up for the
distance you would lose
by dropping back. And if
something happens to cause you to cancel your pass,
you need only slow down and drop back again and
wait for another opportunity.
If other cars are lined up to pass a slow vehicle, wait
your
turn. But take care that someone isn’t trying to
pass
you as you pull out to pass the slow vehicle.
Remember to glance over your shoulder and check
the blind spot.
0 Check your mirrors, glance over your shoulder, and
start your left lane change signal before moving out
of the right lane to pass. When you are far enough
ahead of the passed vehicle to see its front in your
inside mirror, activate your right lane change signal
and move back into the right lane. (Remember that
your right outside mirror
is convex. The vehicle you
just passed may seem to be farther away from you
than it really is.)
0 Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time on
two-lane roads. Reconsider before passing the next
vehicle.
0 Don’t overtake a slowly moving vehicle too rapidly.
Even though the brake lights
are not flashing, it may
be slowing down or starting to turn.
0 If you’re being passed, make it easy for the
following driver
to get ahead of you. Perhaps you
can ease a little to the right.
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Driving in the Rain Rain and wet roads can mean dnving 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 always 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 are
tuned for driving
on dry pavement.
The heavier the rain, the harder it is to
see. Even if your
windsheld wiper blades
are in good shape, a heavy rain
can make it harder to see road signs and traffic signals,
pavement markings, the edge sf the road, and even
people walking.
It’s wise to keep your wiping equipment in good shape
and keep your windshield washer tank filled. Replace
your windshield wiper inserts when they show signs
of
streaking or missing areas on the windshield, or when
strips
of rubber start to separate from the inserts.
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City Driving 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:
0
0
0
Know the best way to get to where you are going.
Get a city map and plan your trip into an unknown
part of the city just as you would for a cross-country
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.
trip.
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Freeway Driving 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.
Mile for mile, freeways (also called thruways, parkways, expressways, turnpikes,
or superhighways) are the safest
of
all roach But they have their own special rules. 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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Making Thms
NOTICE:
Making very sharp turns while trailering could cause the trailer to come in contact with the vehicle. Your vehicle could be damaged. Avoid
making very sharp turns while trailering.
When you’re turning with a trailer, make wider turns
than normal.
Do this so your trailer won’t strike soft
shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees, or other objects.
Avoid jerky or sudden maneuvers. Signal well in
Tldvance.
’Ibrn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle has to have a
different turn signal flasher and extra wiring. The green
arrows on your instrument panel will flash whenever
you signal a turn or lane change. Properly hooked up,
the trailer lamps will also flash, telling other drivers
you’re about to turn, change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the green arrows on your
instrument panel will flash for turns even if the bulbs on
the trailer are burned out.
Thus, you may think drivers behind
you are seeing your signal when they are not. It’s
important to check occasionally to be sure the trailer
bulbs are still working.
Your vehicle has bulb warning lights. When you plug a
trailer lighting system into your vehicle’s lighting
system, its bulb warning lights may not let you know if
one of your lamps goes out.
So, when you have a trailer
lighting system plugged in, be sure to check your
vehicle and trailer lamps from time to time to be sure
they’re all working. Once you disconnect the trailer lamps, the bulb warning lights again can tell you if one
of your vehicle larnps is out.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start
down a long or steep downgrade.
If you don’t shift
down, you might have to use your brakes
so much that
they would get hot and
no longer work well.
On a long uphill grade, shift down to DRIVE (@) and
reduce your speed to around 45 mph (70 kmph) to
reduce the possibility of engine and transaxle
overheating.
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Section 5 Problems on the Road
Here you’ll find what to do about some problems that
can occur on the road.
Hazard Warning Flashers
Your hazard warning flashers let you warn others. They
also let police know you have a problem. Your front and
rear turn signal lamps will flash on and
off.
Press the button in to make
your front and rear turn
signal lamps flash on and
off.
Your hazard warning flashers work no matter what
position your key
is in, and even if the key isn’t in.
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To turn off the flashers, pull
out on the collar.
When the hazard warning
flashers are on, your turn
signals won’t work.
Other Warning Devices
If you carry reflective triangles, you can set one up at
the side
of the road about 300 feet (100 m) behind your
vehicle.
Jump Starting
If your battery has run down, you may want to use
another vehicle and some jumper cables to start your
Pontiac. But please follow the steps below to do it
safely.
NOTICE:
Remember that ignoring these steps could result
in costly damage to your vehicle that wouldn’t
be
covered by your warranty.
ming to start your Pontiac by pushing or pulling
it won’t work, and it could damage your vehicle.
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Left Side Fuse Panel: Located to the left of the steering
wheel, the panel
is under the instrument panel. Position Circuitry
1 Circuit Breaker-Power
2 Not Used
3 Power Seats-Circuit Brakes
4 Not Used
5 Not Used
1A Crank Signal-Air Bag-VATS
2A Spare
3A Not Used
4A Interior Lamps
5A Ignition (Run), Automatic A/C
6A Courtesy Lamps, Power Mirrors
7A Not Used
8A Not Used
9A Cigarette Light.er
1B Turn Signal, Back-up Lamps,
Windows, Sunroof
Control, Base Cluster
Cornering
Lamps,
Brake-Transaxle Shift Interlock
2B Spare
3B Not Used
4B Not Used
5B Anti-Lock Brake System,
Ride
Control
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