2014 Buick Encore Owner Manual - Page 159

Driving and Operating . 9-3 Do not use a phone in demanding driving situations. Use a hands-free method to place or receive necessary phone calls. Watch the road. Do not read, take notes, or look up information on phones or other electronic devices. Designate a front seat passenger to handle potential distractions. Become familiar with vehicle features before driving, such as programming favorite radio stations and adjusting climate control and seat settings. Program all trip information into any navigation device prior to driving. Wait until the vehicle is parked to retrieve items that have fallen to the floor. Stop or park the vehicle to tend to children. . Keep pets in an appropriate carrier or restraint. Avoid stressful conversations while driving, whether with a passenger or on a cell phone. . . . Assume that other road users (pedestrians, bicyclists, and other drivers) are going to be careless and make mistakes. Anticipate what they might do and be ready. Allow enough following distance between you and the driver in front of you. Focus on the task of driving. { Warning Taking your eyes off the road too long or too often could cause a crash resulting in injury or death. Focus your attention on driving. Refer to the infotainment section for more information on using that system. Refer to the infotainment manual for more information on the navigation system, if equipped, including pairing and using a cell phone. . . . Drunk Driving Death and injury associated with drinking and driving is a global tragedy. . { Warning Drinking and then driving is very dangerous. Your reflexes, perceptions, attentiveness, and judgment can be affected by even a small amount of alcohol. You (Continued) . Defensive Driving Defensive driving means "always expect the unexpected." The first step in driving defensively is to wear the safety belt. See Safety Belts on page 3-14. .