Off-Road Driving - Skoda Yeti Owner's Manual

168 Driving and the environment
WARNING
● Driving through water, mud, sludge etc. can reduce the braking power and
extend the braking distance - risk of accident!
● Avoid sudden and severe braking manoeuvres immediately after driving
through bodies of water.
● After driving through bodies of water, the brakes must be cleaned and
dried as soon as possible by intermittent braking. Only apply the brakes for
the purpose of drying and cleaning the brake discs if the traffic conditions per-
mit this. Do not place any other road users in jeopardy.
CAUTION
● When driving through bodies of water, parts of the vehicle such as the engine,
gearbox, catalytic converter, chassis or electrics can be severely damaged.
● Oncoming vehicles can generate water waves which can exceed the permissi-
ble water level for your vehicle.
● Potholes, mud or rocks can be hidden under the water making it difficult or im-
possible to drive through the body of water.
● Do not drive through salt water. The salt can lead to corrosion. Immediately
rinse all the parts of the vehicle, which came into contact with the salt water, with
fresh water.
Note
After driving through a body of water, we recommend that the vehicle is checked
by a specialist garage.

Off-road driving

Important information
WARNING
● Never drive too fast, particularly not around curves, and never undertake
extreme driving manoeuvres.
● Always adjust your speed and adapt your style of driving to suit road, off-
road, traffic and weather conditions.
WARNING (Continued)
● In case the vehicle is stationary on a hillside at a steep angle, do not exit
the vehicle when it is facing downhill. Through this the overall centre of gravi-
ty can shift in such a way that the vehicle tilts and rolls down the hillside -
hazard! Always carefully exit your vehicle on the side facing uphill
⇒ p age 174.
● A lack of experience and knowledge when driving off-road can lead to criti-
cal situations and serious injuries.
● Never choose a dangerous route and never take a risk which could jeop-
ardize your safety and that of your passengers. If you cannot go on or if you
doubt the safety of the route, turn back and choose another way. Even a ter-
rain, which looks harmless, can be difficult and dangerous, and may bring you
and your passengers into a critical situation.
● If you have not fastened your seat belt correctly or you are not wearing
your seat belt at all, or you are holding the steering wheel incorrectly when
driving off-road, the risk of severe or even fatal injuries increases. Correctly
fastened seat belts reduce serious injuries in case of sudden braking manoeu-
vers and accidents. As long as the vehicle is in motion, always have your seat
belt and those of your passengers correctly fastened. Take your thumbs off
the steering wheel when driving off-road. Should resistance build up in front
of the wheels, the steering wheel may suddenly and unexpectedly spin and
hurt you. Hold the steering wheel with both hands firmly on the outer edge in
the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock position.
● If you have not fastened your seat belt correctly or you are not wearing
your seat belt at all, or you are holding the steering wheel incorrectly when
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driving off-road, the risk of severe or even fatal injuries increases.
● Correctly fastened seat belts reduce serious injuries in case of sudden
braking manoeuvres and accidents. Therefore you and your passengers must
always fasten your seat belts correctly as long as the vehicle is moving.
● Take your thumbs off the steering wheel when driving off-road. If the
wheels hit an obstacle, the steering wheel may suddenly and unexpectedly
spin and hurt you!
● Never use the cruise control system when driving off-road. The use of the
cruise control system when driving off-road is unsuitable and can even be
dangerous.
● Do not drive over embankments, ramps or hillsides at too high a speed.
This can lead to the wheels of the vehicle lifting off the ground so that you
can no longer steer and control the vehicle.
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