Defensive Driving; Control Of A Vehicle; Braking; Steering - Chevrolet Captiva 2007 Owner's Handbook Manual

176 Driving and Operating
Refer to the Infotainment section for
more information on using that
system, including pairing and using
a cell phone.

Defensive Driving

Defensive driving means "always
expect the unexpected." The first
step in driving defensively is to wear
the safety belt. Safety Belts 0 57.
{
Warning
Assume that other road users
(pedestrians, bicyclists, and other
drivers) are going to be careless
and make mistakes. Anticipate
what they might do and be ready.
In addition:
. Allow enough following
distance between you and
the driver in front of you.
. Focus on the task of driving.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
Driver distraction can cause
collisions resulting in injury or
possible death. These simple
defensive driving techniques
could save your life.

Control of a Vehicle

Braking, steering, and accelerating
are important factors in helping to
control a vehicle while driving.

Braking

Braking action involves perception
time and reaction time. Deciding to
push the brake pedal is perception
time. Actually doing it is
reaction time.
Average driver reaction time is
about three-quarters of a second. In
that time, a vehicle moving at
100 km/h (60 mph) travels 20 m
(66 ft), which could be a lot of
distance in an emergency.
Helpful braking tips to keep in mind
include:
. Keep enough distance between
you and the vehicle in front
of you.
. Avoid needless heavy braking.
. Keep pace with traffic.
If the engine ever stops while the
vehicle is being driven, brake
normally but do not pump the
brakes. Doing so could make the
pedal harder to push down. If the
engine stops, there will be some
power brake assist but it will be
used when the brake is applied.
Once the power assist is used up, it
can take longer to stop and the
brake pedal will be harder to push.

Steering

Hydraulic Power Steering
This vehicle has hydraulic power
steering. It may require
maintenance. Power Steering
Fluid 0 243.