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

DEFENSIVE DRIVING

Defensive driving means "always
expect the unexpected." The first step in
driving defensively is to wear the safety
belt. See Safety Belts on page 2-14.
 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.
Allow enough following distance

between you and the driver in front
of you.
 Focus on the task of driving.

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 20m (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.
Driving and Operating 8-3

STEERING

Hydraulic Power Steering
Your vehicle has hydraulic power
steering. It may require maintenance.
See Power Steering Fluid on page 9-20.
If power steering assist is lost because
the engine stops or a system malfunc-
tion, the vehicle can be steered but may
require increased effort. See your
CHEVROLET retailer if there is a
problem.
Curve Tips
 Take curves at a reasonable speed.
Reduce speed before entering a curve.

Maintain a reasonable steady speed

through the curve.
Wait until the vehicle is out of the

curve before accelerating gently
into the straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
There are some situations when

steering around a problem may be
more effective than braking.