Utility Vehicle Precautions - Lexus RX350 Manual

WARNING
In a rollover crash, an unbelted person
●
is significantly more likely to die than a
person wearing a seat belt. Therefore,
the driver and all passengers should
always fasten their seat belts.
● Avoid sharp turns or abrupt maneu-
vers, if at all possible.
Failure to operate this vehicle correctly
may result in loss of control or vehicle
rollover causing death or serious
injury.
● Loading cargo on the roof luggage
carrier will make the center of the
vehicle gravity higher. Avoid high
speeds, sudden starts, sharp turns,
sudden braking or abrupt maneuvers,
otherwise it may result in loss of con-
trol or vehicle rollover due to failure to
operate this vehicle correctly.
● Always slow down in gusty crosswinds.
Because of its profile and higher cen-
ter of gravity, your vehicle is more sen-
sitive to side winds than an ordinary
passenger car. Slowing down will allow
you to have better control.
Do not drive horizontally across steep
●
slopes. Driving straight up or straight
down is preferred. Your vehicle (or any
similar off-road vehicle) can tip over
sideways much more easily than for-
ward or backward.
Off-road driving
Your vehicle is not designed to be
driven off-road. However, in the event
that off-road driving cannot be
avoided, please observe the following
precautions to help avoid the areas
prohibited to vehicles.
 Drive your vehicle only in areas
where off-road vehicles are permit-
ted to travel.
4-6. Driving tips
 Respect private property. Get
owner's permission before entering
private property.
 Do not enter areas that are closed.
Honor gates, barriers and signs that
restrict travel.
 Stay on established roads. When
conditions are wet, driving tech-
niques should be changed or travel
delayed to prevent damage to
roads.
Additional information for off-road driv-
■
ing
For owners in U.S. mainland, Hawaii and

Puerto Rico:
To obtain additional information pertaining
to driving your vehicle off-road, consult the
following organizations.
State and Local Parks and Recreation
●
Departments
● State Motor Vehicle Bureau
Recreational Vehicle Clubs
●
● U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land
Management
WARNING
■ Off-road driving precautions
Always observe the following precau-
tions to minimize the risk of death, seri-
ous injury or damage to your vehicle:
● Drive carefully when off the road. Do
not take unnecessary risks by driving in
dangerous places.
● Do not grip the steering wheel spokes
when driving off-road. A bad bump
could jerk the wheel and injure your
hands. Keep both hands and especially
your thumbs on the outside of the rim.
Always check your brakes for effec-
●
tiveness immediately after driving in
sand, mud, water or snow.
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