1993 Pontiac Sunbird Owner's Manual - Page 109

Your Driving and the Road I OFF ROAD RECOVERW,--&~~~ 4 3 Of-Road Recovery You may find sometime your right that wheels have dropped off the edge of a road onto theshoulder while you're driving. If the level of the shoulder is only slightly belowthe pavement, recovery off should be fairly easy. Ease the accelerator and then, if there is nothing in theway, steer so that your vehicle straddles the edge of the pavement. You can turn the steering wheel up to 1/4 turn until the right front tire contacts the pavement edge.Then turn your steering wheel to go straight down the roadway. Passing The driverof a vehicleabout to pass another on a two-lane highway waits for just theright moment, accelerates, moves around the vehicle ahead, then goes backinto theright lane again. A simple maneuver? Not necessarily! Passinganother vehicle on a two-lane highway a potentially is dangerous move, since the passing vehicle occupiesthe same lane as oncoming trafficfor several seconds. A miscalculation, an error in judgment, or a brief surrender to frustration or anger can suddenly put thepassing 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 thesides, and to crossroads for situations that might affect your passing patterns. If you have any doubt whatsoever about making a successful pass, wait for abetter 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 clear). (providing the road ahead is 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, especiallyif you're Also, you following a larger vehicle. if won't have adequate space the vehicle ahead suddenly slows or stops. Keep backa reasonable distance. When it looks like a chance pass is to coming up, start to accelerate but stay in the right lane and don't get too so close. Time your move you will be increasing speed as time comesto the move into the other lane. If the way is clear to pass, you will havea "running start" thatmore than makes up for the distance you would lose by dropping back. Andif something happensto cause you to cancel your pass, you need only slow down drop back and again and wait for another opportunity.