Your Driving, The Road, And Your Vehicle; Drunk Driving - Buick 2008 Lucerne Owner's Manual

Your Driving, the Road, and
Your Vehicle
Defensive Driving
Defensive driving means "always expect the
unexpected." The first step in driving defensively is to
wear your safety belt — See Safety Belts: They Are for
Everyone on page 1-12.
CAUTION:
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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.
Driver distraction can cause collisions
resulting in injury or possible death. These
simple defensive driving techniques could
save your life.
4-2

Drunk Driving

CAUTION:
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Drinking and then driving is very dangerous.
Your reflexes, perceptions, attentiveness, and
judgment can be affected by even a small
amount of alcohol. You can have a serious — or
even fatal — collision if you drive after drinking.
Do not drink and drive or ride with a driver who
has been drinking. Ride home in a cab; or if you
are with a group, designate a driver who will
not drink.
Death and injury associated with drinking and driving is
a global tragedy.
Alcohol affects four things that anyone needs to drive a
vehicle: judgment, muscular coordination, vision, and
attentiveness.
Police records show that almost 40 percent of all motor
vehicle-related deaths involve alcohol. In most cases,
these deaths are the result of someone who was drinking
and driving. In recent years, more than 17,000 annual
motor vehicle-related deaths have been associated with
the use of alcohol, with about 250,000 people injured.