1994 Oldsmobile Silhouette Owner's Manual - Page 142

Your Driving and the Road I Passing The driver of a vehicle aborIt t o pass another ona two-lane highway waits for just the right moment, accelerates, moves around thevehicle ahead, then goes back into theright lane again. A simple maneuver? Not necessarily! Passing another vehicle I on a two-lane highway isa potentially dangerous move, since the passing I vehicle occupies the same lane as You may find sometime that your right oncoming traffic for several seconds. A wheels have dropped off the edge of a miscalculation, an error in judgment, or road onto the shoulder while you're a brief surrender to frustration oranger driving. can suddenly put the passing driver face If the level of the shoulder is only to face with the worst all traffic of slightly belowthe pavement, recovery accidents - the head-on collision. should be fairly easy. Ease off the accelerator and then, if there is nothing So here aresome tips for passing: "Drive ahead." Look down the road, in theway, steer so that your vehicle to the sides, and to crossroads for straddles theedge of the pavement. You situations that might affectyour can turn the steering wheel up to% turn passing patterns. If you have any until the right front tire contacts the doubt whatsoever about malting a pavement edge. Then turn your steering successful pass, waitfor a better time. wheel to go straight down the roadway. Watch for traffic signs, pavement markings, and lines. If you can see a sign up aheadthat 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 double solid line, even a if the road seems empty of approaching traffic. Do not get too close to thevehicle 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 theright lane and don't get too close. Time your move so you will be increasing speed as thetime comes to move into theother lane. If the way is clear to pass, you will have a "running start" thatmore than rnaltes up for the distanceyou would lose by dropping back. And if something happens to cause you to cancel your pass, you need only slow down and Off-Road Recovery 140