Off-Road Recovery - Suzuki 2008 XL7 Owner's Manual

Off-Road Recovery

You may find that your vehicle's right
wheels have dropped off the edge of a
road onto the shoulder while you are driv-
ing.
If the level of the shoulder is only slightly
below the pavement, recovery should be
fairly easy. Ease off the accelerator and
then, if there is nothing in the way, steer so
that your vehicle straddles the edge of the
pavement. You can turn the steering wheel
up to one-quarter turn until the right front
tire contacts the pavement edge. Then turn
the steering wheel to go straight down the
roadway.
Passing
Passing another vehicle on a two-lane
road can be dangerous. To reduce the risk
of danger while passing, we suggest the
following tips:
• Look down the road, to the sides, and to
crossroads for situations that might
affect a successful pass. If in doubt, wait.
• Watch for traffic signs, pavement mark-
ings, and lines that could indicate a turn
or an intersection. Never cross a solid or
double-solid line on your side of the lane.
• Do not get too close to the vehicle you
want to pass. Doing so can reduce your
visibility.
• Wait your turn to pass a slow vehicle.
• When you are being passed, ease to the
right.
Loss of Control
810696
Let us review what driving experts say
about what happens when the three con-
trol systems – brakes, steering, and accel-
eration – do not have enough friction
where the tires meet the road to do what
the driver has asked.
In any emergency, do not give up. Keep
trying to steer and constantly seek an
escape route or area of less danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the
vehicle. Defensive drivers avoid most skids
by taking reasonable care suited to exist-
ing conditions, and by not overdriving
DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE
those conditions. But skids are always pos-
sible.
The three types of skids correspond to
your vehicle's three control systems. In the
braking skid, the wheels are not rolling. In
the steering or cornering skid, too much
speed or steering in a curve causes tires to
slip and lose cornering force. And in the
acceleration skid, too much throttle causes
the driving wheels to spin.
A cornering skid is best handled by easing
your foot off the accelerator pedal.
Remember: Any traction control system
helps avoid only the acceleration skid. If
your traction system is off, then an acceler-
ation skid is also best handled by easing
your foot off the accelerator pedal. Refer to
"Traction Control System (TCS)" and
"Electronic Stability Control (ESC)" in this
section.
If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your
foot off the accelerator pedal and quickly
steer the way you want the vehicle to go. If
you start steering quickly enough, your
vehicle may straighten out. Always be
ready for a second skid if it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when water,
snow, ice, gravel, or other material is on
the road. For safety, you will want to slow
down and adjust your driving to these con-
ditions. It is important to slow down on slip-
pery surfaces because stopping distance
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