1998 Nissan Pathfinder Owner's Manual - Page 131

ON-PAVEMENT AND OFFROAD DRIVING PRECAUTIONS Utility vehicles have higher ground clearance than passenger cars and a narrower track to make them capable of performing in a wide variety of offroad applications. Specific design characteristics give them a higher center of gravity than ordinary cars. An advantage of higher ground clearance is a better view of the road, allowing you to anticipate problems. They are not designed for cornering at the same speeds as conventional two-wheel drive vehicles any more than low-slung sports cars are designed to perform satisfactorily under offroad conditions. If at all possible, avoid sharp turns or abrupt maneuvers. As with other vehicles of this type, failure to operate this vehicle correctly may result in loss of control or vehicle rollover. Be sure to read the driving safety precautions later in this section. AVOIDING COLLISION AND ROLLOVER DRINKING ALCOHOL/DRUGS AND DRIVING Failure to operate this vehicle in a safe and prudent manner may result in loss of control or an accident. Be alert and drive defensively at all times. Obey all traffic regulations. Avoid excessive speed, high speed cornering, or sudden steering maneuvers, because these driving practices could cause you to lose control of your vehicle. As with any vehicle, a loss of control could result in a collision with other vehicles or objects, or cause the vehicle to rollover, particularly if the loss of control causes the vehicle to slide sideways. Be attentive at all times, and avoid driving when tired. Never drive when under the influence of alcohol or drugs (including prescription or over-the-counter drugs which may cause drowsiness). Always wear your seat belt as outlined in the "Seat belts" in the "1. Seats, restraints and supplemental air bag systems" section of this manual, and also instruct your passengers to do so. Never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Alcohol in the bloodstream reduces coordination, delays reaction time and impairs judgement. Driving after drinking alcohol increases the likelihood of being involved in an accident injuring yourself and others. Additionally, if you are injured in the accident, alcohol can increase the severity of the injury. Nissan is committed to safe driving. But, you must choose not to drive under the influence of alcohol. Every year thousands of people are injured or killed in alcohol related accidents. Although the local laws vary on what is considered to be legally intoxicated, the fact is that alcohol affects all people differently and most people underestimate the effects of alcohol. Remember, drinking and driving don't mix! And that's true for drugs too (over the counter, prescription, and illegal drugs). Don't drive if your ability to operate your vehicle is impaired 5-4 Starting and driving