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Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, other wet weather driving tips include:
. Allow extra following distance.
. Pass with caution.
. Keep windshield wiping equipment in good shape.
. Keep the windshield washer fluid reservoir filled.
. Have good tires with proper tread depth. See Tires 0 348.
. Turn off cruise control.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through
mountains is different than driving on flat or rolling terrain. Tips include:
. Keep the vehicle serviced and in good shape.
. Check all fluid levels and brakes, tires, cooling system, and
transmission.
. Shift to a lower gear when going down steep or long hills.
{ Warning
Using the brakes to slow the vehicle on a long downhill slope can cause brake overheating, can reduce brake performance, and could result in a
loss of braking. Shift the
transmission to a lower gear to let the engine assist the brakes on a
steep downhill slope.
{ Warning
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral) or with the ignition off is dangerous.
This can cause overheating of the brakes and loss of steering assist.
Always have the engine running and the vehicle in gear.
. Drive at speeds that keep the
vehicle in its own lane. Do not swing wide or cross the
center line.
. Be alert on top of hills; something could be in your lane (e.g., stalled car, accident).
. Pay attention to special road signs (e.g., falling rocks area, winding
roads, long grades, passing or no-passing zones) and take
appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Snow or ice between the tires and the road creates less traction or grip, so
drive carefully. Wet ice can occur at about 0 °C (32 °F) when freezing rain
begins to fall. Avoid driving on wet ice or in freezing rain until roads can be
treated.
For slippery road driving:
. Accelerate gently. Accelerating too quickly causes the wheels to spin and makes the surface under the
tires slick.
. Turn on Traction Control. See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control 0 237.
210 DRIVING AND OPERATING
. Antilock Brake System (ABS)
improves vehicle stability during hard stops, but the brakes should be applied sooner than when on dry pavement. See Antilock Brake System (ABS) 0 232.
See Driver Mode Control (Gasoline Only) 0 239.
. Allow greater following distance and watch for slippery spots. Icy patches can occur on otherwise clear roads in shaded areas. The
surface of a curve or an overpass can remain icy when the
surrounding roads are clear. Avoid sudden steering maneuvers and
braking while on ice.
. Turn off cruise control.
Blizzard Conditions
Stop the vehicle in a safe place and
signal for help. Stay with the vehicle
unless there is help nearby. If possible, use Roadside Service. See Roadside
Service 0 421. To get help and keep
everyone in the vehicle safe:
. Turn on the hazard warning flashers.
. Tie a red cloth to an outside mirror.
{ Warning
Snow can trap engine exhaust
under the vehicle. This may cause exhaust gases to get inside. Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide (CO), which cannot be seen or
smelled. It can cause
unconsciousness and even death. If the vehicle is stuck in snow:
. Clear snow from the base of
the vehicle, especially any blocking the exhaust pipe.
. Open a window about 5 cm
(2 in) on the vehicle side that is away from the wind, to
bring in fresh air.
. Fully open the air outlets on or under the instrument
panel.
. Adjust the climate control system to circulate the air
inside the vehicle and set the
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
fan speed to the highest
setting. See “Climate Control Systems.”
For more information about CO, see
Engine Exhaust 0 228.
To save fuel, run the engine for short periods to warm the vehicle and then shut the engine off and partially close the window. Moving about to keep
warm also helps.
If it takes time for help to arrive,
when running the engine, push the accelerator pedal slightly so the
engine runs faster than the idle speed.
This keeps the battery charged to
restart the vehicle and to signal for help with the headlamps. Do this as little as possible, to save fuel.
