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.
Drive defensively.
Do not drink and drive.
Adjust the inside rearview mirror to reduce the
glare from headlamps behind you.
Since you cannot 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 vehicle’s headlamps can light up only so
much road ahead.
In remote areas, watch for animals.
If you are tired, pull off the road in a safe place
and rest.
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
are driving, do not 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 by approaching
headlamps. It can take a second or two, or even several
seconds, for your eyes to re-adjust to the dark. When
you are faced with severe glare, as from a driver
who does not lower the high beams, or a vehicle with
misaimed headlamps, slow down a little. Avoid
staring directly into the approaching headlamps.
Keep the 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 lm caused by dust. Dirty glass makes
lights dazzle and ash more than clean glass would,
making the pupils of your eyes contract repeatedly.
Remember that the headlamps light up far less of a
roadway when you are in a turn or curve. Keep your eyes
moving; that way, it is easier to pick out dimly lighted
objects. Just as the 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 are
not even aware of it.
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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. Reduce your speed
according to your speedometer, not to your sense
of motion. After driving for any distance at higher
speeds, you may tend to think you are going slower
than you actually are.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you are ready. Try to be well rested. If you
must start when you are not fresh — such as after
a day’s work — do not plan to make too many miles
that rst 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 is ready to go. If it needs
service, have it done before starting out. Of course,
you will nd experienced and able service experts
in GM dealerships all across North America. They
will be ready and willing to help if you need it.
5-24
Here are some things you can check before a trip:
Windshield Washer Fluid:Is the reservoir full?
Are all windows clean inside and outside?
Wiper Blades:Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids:Have you checked
all levels?
Lamps:Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
Tires:They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip. Is the tread good enough for
long-distance driving? Are the tires all in ated
to the recommended pressure?
Weather Forecasts:What is the 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?
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 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.
5-25
Fuses Usage
20 OnStar
®
21Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC),
Driver Door Switch
22Power Tilt Wheel, Telescopic
Steering Column, Memory Seat,
Driver Seat Switch, Retractable
Hardtop Switch
23 Ignition Switch, Intrusion Sensor
24 Stop Lamp
25Inside Rearview Mirror, Climate
Control System, Column Lock,
Power Sounder
26Instrument Panel Cluster, Head-Up
Display (HUD)
27 Radio, S-Band, CD Changer
28 Tap-Up/Tap-Down Switch
29Climate Control System, Power
Sounder
30Rear Fog Lamps, Diagnostic Link
Connector
31 Power Folding Mirror
32Trunk Close Button, Parking Brake
Solenoid B
33 Power Seats
Fuses Usage
34 Door Controls
35 Run, Accessory Power
36 Not Used
37 Not Used
38 Rainsense™
39Steering Wheel Control
Button Lights
40 Power Lumbar
41 Passenger’s Side Heated Seat
42 Driver’s Side Heated Seat
43 Not Used
44 Retractable Hardtop, Trunk Latch
45 Auxiliary Power
46 Cigar Lighter
47 Park Brake Hold
48 Park Brake Release
49 Not Used
50 Not Used
51 Not Used
52 Fuel Door
6-88
M
Magnetic Ride Control.....................................5-11
Maintenance Schedule
Additional Required Services........................... 7-6
At Each Fuel Fill........................................... 7-8
At Least Once a Month.................................. 7-8
At Least Once a Year.................................... 7-9
Introduction.................................................. 7-2
Maintenance Footnotes.................................. 7-7
Maintenance Record....................................7-15
Maintenance Requirements............................. 7-2
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts.........7-13
Owner Checks and Services........................... 7-8
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants.............7-11
Scheduled Maintenance................................. 7-4
Using.......................................................... 7-2
Your Vehicle and the Environment................... 7-2
Malfunction Indicator Light................................3-58
Map Pocket...................................................2-45
Maps ............................................................4-38
Memory Mirrors..............................................2-56
Memory Point, Edit.........................................4-19Memory Seat.................................................2-56
Memory Steering Wheel Controls......................2-56
Menu
Setup........................................................4-13
Message
DIC Warnings and Messages........................3-67
Mirrors
Automatic Dimming Rearview
with OnStar
®...........................................2-35
Memory .....................................................2-56
Outside Automatic Dimming Mirror.................2-36
Outside Convex Mirror.................................2-37
Outside Curb View Assist Mirror....................2-37
Outside Power Heated Mirrors.......................2-36
MyGMLink.com................................................ 8-3
N
Navigation.................................................4-2, 4-4
Using the System........................................4-10
New Vehicle Break-In......................................2-20
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts............7-13
8
O
Odometer......................................................3-50
Odometer, Trip...............................................3-50
Off-Road Recovery..........................................5-15
Oil
Engine.......................................................6-15
Engine Oil Pressure Gage............................3-61
Life Indicator...............................................3-82
Oil, Engine Oil Life System..............................6-18
Older Children, Restraints................................1-18
Online Owner Center........................................ 8-3
OnStar
®System.............................................4-47
OnStar®System, see OnStar®Manual...............2-38
Ordering
Map DVDs .................................................4-50
Other Warning Devices...................................... 3-6
Outlet Adjustment............................................3-47
Outlet(s), Accessory Power...............................3-40
Outside
Automatic Dimming Mirror.............................2-36
Convex Mirror.............................................2-37
Curb View Assist Mirror................................2-37
Power Heated Mirrors..................................2-36
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode.....6-27
Owner Checks and Services.............................. 7-8
Owners, Canadian............................................... ii
P
Paint, Damage...............................................6-83
Park Aid........................................................3-38
Park (P)
Shifting Into................................................2-30
Shifting Out of............................................2-32
Parking
Assist........................................................3-38
Brake........................................................2-29
Over Things That Burn.................................2-33
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator.....................3-52
Passenger Compartment Air Filter.....................3-47
Passenger Position, Safety Belts.......................1-17
Passenger Sensing System..............................1-40
Passing.........................................................5-16
Plan Route....................................................4-18
Power
Accessory Outlet(s)......................................3-40
Door Locks.................................................2-11
Electrical System.........................................6-86
Lumbar Controls........................................... 1-2
Reclining Seatback........................................ 1-3
Retained Accessory (RAP)............................2-22
Seat............................................................ 1-2
Steering Fluid.............................................6-33
Tilt Wheel and Telescopic Steering Column....... 3-6
Windows....................................................2-16
9
Pretensioners, Safety Belt................................1-17
Problems with Route Guidance.........................4-50
Programmable Automatic Door Unlock...............2-12
Q
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts.......... 1-9
R
Racing or Other Competitive Driving..................5-18
Radio............................................................4-51
Personalization with Home and
Away Feature..........................................4-74
Radios..........................................................3-82
Care of Your CD Player...............................3-86
Care of Your CDs ........................................3-86
Theft-Deterrent............................................3-83
Understanding Reception..............................3-84
Rainsense™ Wipers........................................3-10
Raising the Retractable Hardtop........................2-48
Reading Lamps..............................................3-33
Rear Axle......................................................6-44
Limited-Slip.................................................5-11
Rear Storage Area..........................................2-46Rearview Mirror, Automatic Dimming
with OnStar
®..............................................2-35
Reclining Seatback, Power................................. 1-3
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants.................7-11
Recreational Vehicle Towing.............................5-37
Replacement, Windshield.................................6-49
Reporting Safety Defects
Canadian Government..................................8-14
General Motors...........................................8-14
United States Government............................8-13
Restraint System Check
Checking the Restraint Systems....................1-45
Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash..........................................1-46
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)......................2-22
Retractable Hardtop........................................2-47
Lowering....................................................2-47
Raising......................................................2-48
Roadside
Service........................................................ 8-6
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out....................5-32
Route Preference............................................4-36
Routing, Engine Drive Belt...............................7-14
Run-Flat Tires................................................6-56
Running the Engine While Parked.....................2-34
10
Traction
Control System (TCS).................................... 5-9
Control System Warning Light.......................3-56
Limited-Slip Rear Axle..................................5-11
Magnetic Ride Control..................................5-11
StabiliTrak
®System.....................................5-11
Transmission
Fluid, Automatic...........................................6-21
Transmission Operation, Automatic....................2-25
Trip Computer
Oil Life Indicator..........................................3-82
Trip Odometer................................................3-50
Trunk............................................................2-12
Turn and Lane-Change Signals.......................... 3-7
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever........................... 3-7
Twilight Sentinel
®............................................3-32
U
Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist (URPA)...............3-38
Understanding Radio Reception........................3-84
Uniform Tire Quality Grading............................6-66
Universal Home Remote System.......................2-40
Operation...................................................2-41
V
Valet Lockout Switch.......................................2-20
Vehicle
Control........................................................ 5-6
Damage Warnings........................................... iv
Loading......................................................5-33
Symbols......................................................... iv
Vehicle Data Collection and Event Data
Recorders.................................................... 8-9
Vehicle Identi cation
Number (VIN).............................................6-85
Service Parts Identi cation Label...................6-85
Vehicle Personalization....................................2-56
DIC ...........................................................3-78
Memory Seat, Mirrors and Steering Wheel......2-56
Vehicle Positioning..........................................4-49
Ventilation Adjustment......................................3-47
Visors...........................................................2-18
Voice Recognition...........................................4-75
Voltmeter Gage..............................................3-54
13