1998 Pontiac Sunfire Owner's Manual - Page 181

1998 Pontiac Sunfire Manual

Page 181 highlights

Passing The driver of a vehicle about to pass another on a two-lane highway waits for just the right moment, accelerates, moves around the vehicle ahead, then goes back into the right lane again. A simple maneuver? Not necessarily! Passing another vehicle on a two-lane highway is a potentially dangerous move, since the passing vehicle occupies the same lane as oncoming traffic for several seconds. A miscalculation, an error in judgment, or a brief surrender to frustration or anger can suddenly put the passing driver face to face with the worst of all traffic accidents -- the head-on collision. Do not get too close to the vehicle you want to pass while you're awaiting an opportunity. For one thing, following 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 willbe 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 upfor 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. 0 So here are some tips for passing: "Drive ahead." Look down the road, to the sides and to crossroads for situations that might affect your passing patterns. If you have any doubt whatsoever about making a successful passt wait for better time. a Watch for traffic signs, pavement markings and lines. If you can see a sign up ahead that might indicate a turn or an intersection, delay your pass. A broken center line usually indicates it's all right to pass (providing the road ahead is clear). Never cross a solid line on your side of the lane or a double solid line, even if the road seems empty of approaching traffic. 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.

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Passing
The driver
of
a vehicle about to pass another on
a
two-lane highway waits for just the right moment,
accelerates, moves around the vehicle ahead, then goes
back into the right lane again.
A
simple maneuver?
Not necessarily! Passing another vehicle on a two-lane
highway is a potentially dangerous move, since the
passing vehicle occupies the same lane as oncoming
traffic for several seconds.
A
miscalculation, an error in
judgment, or a
brief surrender to frustration or anger can
suddenly put the passing driver face to face with the
worst of all traffic accidents
--
the head-on collision.
So
here are some tips for passing:
“Drive
ahead.”
Look
down
the
road,
to
the
sides
and
to
crossroads
for
situations
that
might
affect
your
passing
patterns. If
you
have
any doubt
whatsoever
about
making
a
successful
passt
wait
for
a
better
time.
Watch for traffic signs, pavement markings and lines.
If
you
can see a sign up ahead that might indicate a
turn or
an
intersection, delay your pass.
A
broken
center line usually indicates it’s all right to pass
(providing the road ahead is clear). Never cross a
solid line
on
your
side
of
the lane or a double
solid
line,
even if the road seems empty of
approaching traffic.
Do
not get too close to the vehicle you want
to
pass
while you’re awaiting
an
opportunity. For one
thing,
following
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.
0
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.