1994 Oldsmobile Bravada Owner's Manual - Page 124

Your Driving and the Road Drinking and driving can be very dangerous on any road. And this is certainly true for off-road driving. At the very time you need special alertness and driving skills, your reflexes, perceptions and judgment can be affectedby even a small amount of alcohol. You could have a serious or even fatalaccident if you drink and drive orride with a driverwho has been drinking. (See Drunken Driving in the Index.) Is there a constant incline, or does the hill get sharplysteeper in places? Is there good traction on thehillside, or willthe surface cause tire slipping? Is there a straight path up or down the hill so you won't have to make turning maneuvers? Are there obstructions on thehill that can block yourpath (boulders, trees, logs or ruts)? What's beyondthe hill? Is there a cliff, an embanlunent, a drop-off, a fence? Get out and walk the hill if you don't know. It's the smart way to find out. Is the hill simplytoo rough? Steep hills often haveruts, gullies, troughsand exposed rocks because they are more susceptible to the effects of erosion. Driving On Off-Road Hills Off-road driving often takes you up, down, or across a hill. Driving safely on hills requires good judgment and an understanding of what your vehicle can and can't do. There are some hills that simply can't be driven, no matter how well builtthe vehicle. Approaching a Hill When you approach a hill, you need to decide if it's one of those hills that's just too steep to climb, descend, or cross. Steepness can be hard to judge. On a very small hill, for example, there may be a smooth, constant incline with only a small change in elevation where you can easily see allthe way to thetop. On a large hill, incline may getsteeper the as you near the top, but may not you see this because the crest of the hill is hidden by bushes, grass, or shrubs. Here are some other things to consider as you approach a hill. 118