Your Driving. The Road. And Your Vehicle; Driver Behavior; Driving Environment; Vehicle Design - Chevrolet TRACKER 2003 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, sport utility. Driver behavior,
the driving environment, and the vehicle's design all
affect how well a vehicle performs. 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: They Are for Everyone on page 1
- IO.
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). Unfamiliar surroundings can also have hidden
hazards.
To help you learn more about driving in different
conditions, this section contains information about city,
freeway and off-road driving, as well as other hints
for driving in various weather conditions.
Vehicle Design
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation,
utility vehicles have a significantly higher rollover
rate than other types of vehicles. Utility vehicles do
have higher ground clearance and a narrower track or
shorter wheelbase than passenger cars, to make
them more capable for off-road driving. Specific design
characteristics like these give the driver a better
view of the road, but also give utility vehicles a higher
center of gravity than other types of vehicles. This
means that you shouldn't expect a utility vehicle
to handle the same way a vehicle with a lower center of
gravity, like a car, would in similar situations.
4-2