
Inside Manual Rearview Mirror Automatic Rearview Mirror
When
you are sitting in a comfortable driving position,
adjust the mirror
so you can see clearly behind your car.
Grip the mirror in the center to move it up or down and
side to side. The day-night adjustment allows you to
adjust the mirror to avoid glare from the lights behind
you. Pull the tab forward for daytime use. Push it back
for night use. The
mirror automatically changes to reduce glare when
set
in the ON position. One photocell on the back of the
mirror senses when it is becoming
dark outside. Another
photocell is built into the mirror surface
to sense
headlamps behind you.
The mirror will darken gradually
to reduce glare. This
change may
take a few moments.
Pressing the switch on the bottom of the
mirror turns off
the dayhight function. The mirror will stay in the day
setting.
To keep the photocells operating well, occasionally
clean them with a cotton swab
and glass cleaner.
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Convex Outside Mirror
Your passenger’s side mirror is convex.
A convex mirror’s surface is curved so you can see more
from the driver’s seat.
Manual Remote Control Mirror
The outside rearview mirror should be adjusted so you
can just see the side
of your vehicle when you are sitting
in a comfortable driving position.
Adjust the driver side outside mirror with the control
lever
on the driver’s door.
To adjust your passenger side mirror, sit in the driver’s
seat and have
a passenger adjust the mirror for you.
Power Remote Control Mirrors
(Option)
A control lever on the
driver’s door controls both
l outside rearview mirrors.
Select the mirror
you want to adjust by rotating the lever
to the left or right. Adjust each mirror so that you can
just see the side
of your vehicle and the area behind your
vehicle, when you are sitting in a comfortable driving
position.
When
you operate the optional rear window defogger,
the outside rearview mirrors are also heated to help clear
them
of ice and snow.
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Sunglasses Storage (Option)
press it into position.
~
Sun Visors
Some models have a storage
compartment for glasses
in
your overhead console.
Press the release button to
lower the
door. Place your
glasses inside the
door. To
close the door, raise it and
TO block out glare, you can swing down the visors. You
can also remove them from the center mount and swing
them to
the side, while the auxiliary sunshade rem&s to
block glare from the front.
Visor Vanity Mirrors
* I. .
Open the cover to expose the vanity mirror.
If your vehicle has the optional lighted vanity mirrors,
the lamps come on when you open the cover. You can
adjust the brightness of the lamps by moving the switch.
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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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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.
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 Pontiac’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 is best handled by easing your foot off
the accelerator pedal.
If you have the traction control system, remember: It
helps avoid only the acceleration skid.
If you do not have traction control, or if the system is
off, then an acceleration skid is also best handled by
easing your foot off the accelerator pedal.
If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot
off the
accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way
you want the
vehicle to go. If you start steering quickly enough, your
vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for a
second skid if it occurs.
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.
While driving on a surface with reduced traction, txy your
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 surface is slippery until your vehicle
is skidding. Leam 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
skid.
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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.
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Drive defensively.
Don’t
drink and drive.
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.
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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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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.
0 Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead and to
the sides. Check your rearview mirrors and
your
instruments frequently.
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.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or mountains is different from
driving in flat or rolling terrain.
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