Your Driving, The Road And Your Vehicle; Driver Behavior; Driving Environment - Chevrolet TRACKER 2002 Owner's Manual

Your Driving, the Road and
Your Vehicle
Whenever we drive, we're taking on an important
responsibility. This is true for any motor
--
vehicle passenger car, van, truck or sport utility.
Driver behavior, the driving environment, and the
vehicle's design all affect how well a vehicle performs.
4-2
But statistics show that the most important factor, by far,
is how we drive. Knowing how these three factors work
together can help you understand how your vehicle
handles and what you can do to avoid many types of
crashes, including a rollover crash.

Driver Behavior

The single most important thing is this: everyone in
the vehicle, including the driver, should buckle up.
See "Safety Belts" in the Index. In fact, most
serious injuries and fatalities to unbelted occupants
can be reduced or prevented by the use of safety belts.
In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is significantly
more likely to die than a person wearing a seat belt.
In addition, avoiding excessive speed, sudden or abrupt
turns and drunken or aggressive driving can help make
trips safer and avoid the possibility of a crash, especially
a rollover crash. This section provides many useful tips
to help you drive more safely.

Driving Environment

You can also help avoid a rollover or other type of crash
by being prepared for driving in inclement weather,
at night, or during other times where visibility or
traction may be limited (such as on curves, slippery
roads or hilly terrain).