Driving At Night; Driving In The Rain; Driving In Fog - Maserati GranTurismo Coupe Owner's Manual

Driving at night

The main guidelines to follow when
driving at night are set out below:
– Use extra caution: at night, driving
conditions are more demanding.
– Reduce your speed, especially on
roads with no streetlights.
– At the first signs of drowsiness, stop:
to continue driving would be a risk
for yourself and for others. Proceed
only after you have had proper rest.
– Keep the car at a greater distance
from vehicles in front of you than
you would use during the day: it is
difficult to assess the speed of other
vehicles when you can only see their
lights.
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– Ensure that the headlights are aimed
correctly: if they are too low, they
reduce visibility and strain the eyes.
If they are too high, they may bother
the drivers of other cars.
– Use the high beams only outside of
densely-populated areas and when
you are sure that they will not
disturb other drivers.
– When another vehicle is
approaching, switch from high
beams (if on) to low beams.
– Keep lights and headlights clean.
– Outside of densely-populated areas,
beware of animals crossing the road.
134 Driving conditions

Driving in the rain

Rain and wet roads are dangerous. On
a wet road all maneuvers are more
difficult since wheel grip on the
asphalt is significantly reduced. This
means that the braking distances
increase considerably and the road
holding decreases.
The main guidelines to follow when
driving in the rain are set out below:
– Reduce your speed and keep a
greater safety distance from the
vehicles in front of you. High speed
may result in a loss of control and
aquaplaning.
– Heavy rain also substantially reduces
visibility. In these circumstances,
even during the day, turn on the low
beams, to be more visible to other
drivers.
– Position the air conditioning and
heating system controls for the
demisting function, in order to avoid
any visibility problems.
– Periodically check the conditions of
the windshield wiper blades.

Driving in fog

If the fog is dense avoid traveling
where possible.
When driving in mist or fog:
– Keep a moderate speed.
– Even in the daytime, turn on the low
beams, and the front and rear fog
lights. Do not use the high beams.
– Remember that fog creates
dampness on the asphalt and thus
any type of maneuver is more
difficult and braking distances are
extended.
– Keep a greater than normal distance
from the vehicle in front of you.
– Avoid sudden changes in speed as
much as possible.
– Whenever possible, avoid passing
other vehicles.
– If you are forced to stop the car
(breakdowns, impossibility of
proceeding due to poor visibility,
etc.), move the vehicle to the
shoulder of if possible. Then turn on
the hazard warning lights and if
possible, the low beams.
– Sound the car horn rhythmically if
you hear another car approaching.