
Freeway Driving
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 ow.
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 ow. 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 ow.
Once you are on the freeway, adjust your speed to the
posted limit or to the prevailing rate if it is 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 is not another vehicle in
your blind spot.
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 you miss your exit, do
not, under any circumstances, stop and back up. Drive
on to the next exit.
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.
The exit speed is usually posted.
4-19

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.
Do not 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 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 at or rolling terrain.
If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you are
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 uid
levels and also the brakes, tires, cooling system,
and transmission. These parts can work hard
on mountain roads.
4-21

Driving with a Trailer
{CAUTION:
If you have a rear-most window open and you
pull a trailer with your vehicle, carbon
monoxide (CO) could come into your vehicle.
You can not see or smell CO. It can cause
unconsciousness or death. SeeEngine
Exhaust on page 2-26. To maximize your safety
when towing a trailer:
Have your exhaust system inspected for
leaks, and make necessary repairs before
starting on your trip.
Keep the rear-most windows closed.
If exhaust does come into your vehicle
through a window in the rear or another
opening, drive with your front, main
heating or cooling system on and with the
fan on any speed. This will bring fresh,
outside air into your vehicle. Do not use
the climate control setting for maximum air
because it only recirculates the air inside
your vehicle. See Climate Control System
in the Index.Towing a trailer requires a certain amount of experience.
Before setting out for the open road, you’ll want to get
to know your rig. Acquaint yourself with the feel of
handling and braking with the added weight of the trailer.
And always keep in mind that the vehicle you are
driving is now a good deal longer and not nearly as
responsive as your vehicle is by itself.
Before you start, check the trailer hitch and platform
(and attachments), safety chains, electrical connector,
lamps, tires and mirror adjustment. If the trailer has
electric brakes, start your vehicle and trailer moving and
then apply the trailer brake controller by hand to be
sure the brakes are working. This lets you check your
electrical connection at the same time.
During your trip, check occasionally to be sure that the
load is secure, and that the lamps and any trailer
brakes are still working.Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead as
you would when driving your vehicle without a trailer.
This can help you avoid situations that require
heavy braking and sudden turns.
4-41

Fuse/Circuit
BreakerUsage
1Stop/Turn/Hazard Lamps, Center
High-Mounted Stop Lamp, Anti-Lock
Brakes
2Radio Accessory, Rear Seat Audio
Controls
3Courtesy Lamps, Glove Box Lamp,
Dome Reading Lamps, Vanity Mirror
Lamps, Courtesy Lamps
Fuse/Circuit
BreakerUsage
4Daytime Running Lamps Relay,
Instrument Panel Cluster
5 Rear Defogger
6Cruise Module, Truck Body Control
Module, Instrument Panel Cluster,
Cruise Control Switch,
Electrochromic Mirror
7 Power Outlets, Subwoofer Ampli er
8Crank Circuit Fuse, Park/Neutral
Switch, Starter Enabler Relay
9License Plate Lamp, Tailamps,
Parking Lamps, Ashtray Lamp,
Panel Lights, Trailer Taillamps,
Front and Rear Sidemarker Lamps,
Door Switch Illumination, Headlamp
Switch Illumination, Rear Seat Audio
Illumination, Truck Body Control
Module
10 Air Bag System
11 Not Used
12Blower Motor, Rear Air Conditioning
Relay Coil, Front Cont. Temp. Door
Motor, HI Blower Relay, Defogger
Timer Coil
13Cigarette Lighter, Door Lock
Switches, Dutch Door Release
Module
5-94

Fuse/Circuit
BreakerUsage
14Cluster Illumination, Climate
Controls, Chime Module, Radio
Illumination, Rear Heat Switch
Illumination, Rear Wiper/Washer
Switch Illumination, Rear Liftgate
Switch Illumination, Remote
Cassette Illumination, Overhead
Console, Truck Body Control
Illumination
15Truck Body Module, Headlamp
Relay
16Front Turn Signals, Rear Turn
Signals, Trailer Turn Signals,
Back-Up Lamps, Brake
Transmission Shift Interlock
Solenoid
17 Front Wipers, Front Washer Pump
18VCM-Ign 3, VCM-Brake, Cruise
Stepper Motor Signal, ATC Module
19Instrument Panel Radio: ATC (Main
Feed), 2000 Series (Standby)Fuse/Circuit
BreakerUsage
20PRNDL/Odometer, Shift A and Shift
B Solenoids, 3–2 Downshift
Solenoid, Instrument Panel Cluster,
VCM Module
21 Power Adjust Mirrors
22 Not Used
23 Rear Wiper, Rear Washer Pump
24 Not Used
Circuit
BreakersUsage
APower Door Lock Relay, 6–Way
Power Seats
B Power Windows
5-95