CADILLAC SEVILLE 1993 4.G Owners Manual
Page 211 of 407
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Start your windshield wipers and washer, to help clear accumulated road
dirt. Slow down carefully.
Tips on Driving in Fog
If you get caught in fog, turn your headlights on low beam, even in
daytime. You’ll
see -- and be seen -- better. Use your fog lights if your
vehicle has them.
Don’t use your high beams. The light will bounce
off the water droplets
that make up fog and reflect back at you.
Use your defogger. In high humidity, even a light buildup of moisture
on
the inside of the glass will cut down on your already limited visibility. Run
your windshield wipers and washer occasionally. Moisture can build up
on the outside glass, and what seems
to be fog may actually be moisture
on the outside of your windshield.
Treat dense fog as an emergency.
Try to find a place to pull off the road.
Of course you want to respect another’s property, but you might need to
put something between
you and moving vehicles -- space, trees, telephone
poles,
a private driveway, anything that removes you from other traffic.
If visibility is near zero and you must stop but are unsure whether you are
away from the road, turn your lights on, start your hazard warning flasher,
and sound your horn at intervals or when you hear approaching traffic.
Pass other vehicles in fog
only if you can see far enough ahead to pass
safely. Even then, be prepared to delay your pass
if you suspect the fog is
worse up ahead.
If other vehicles try to pass you, make it easy for them.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine CIZYDRlWNG
One of the biggest problems with city streets is the amount of traffic on
them. You’ll want to watch out for what the other drivers are doing and
pay attention to traffic signals.
Here are ways to increase your safety
in city driving:
a
a
0
Know the best way to get to where you are going. Try not to drive
around trying to pick out a familiar street or landmark. Get a
city map
and plan your trip into
an unknown part of the city just as you would
for a cross-country trip.
Try to use the freeways that rim and crisscross most large cities. You’ll
save time and energy. (See the next section, “Freeway Driving.”)
Treat a green light as a warning signal.
A traffic light is there because
the corner
is busy enough to need it. When a light turns green, and
just before you start to move, check both ways for vehicles that have
not cleared the intersection or may be running the red light.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Obey all posted speed limits. But remember that they are for ideal
road, weather and visibility conditions.
You may need to drive below
the posted limit in bad weather or when visibility
is especially poor.
Pull to the right (with care) and stop clear of intersections when you
see or hear emergency vehicles.
FREEWAY DMNG
Mile for mile, freeways (also called thruways, parkways, expressways,
turnpikes, or superhighways) are the safest
of all roads. But they have
their own special rules.
The most important advice on freeway driving is: Keep up with traffic and
keep to the right. Drive at the same speed most
of the other drivers are
driving. Too-fast or too-slow driving breaks a smooth traffic
flow. Treat
the left lane on a freeway as a passing lane.
Entering the Freeway
At the entrance there is usually a ramp that leads to the freeway. If you
have a clear view of the freeway as you drive along the entrance ramp,
you should begin to check traffic. Try to determine where you expect to
blend with the flow. If traffic is light, you may have no problem. But if it is
heavy, find
a gap as you move along the entering lane and time your
approach.
Try to merge into the gap at close to the prevailing speed.
Switch on your turn signal, check your rearview mirrors as you move
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine along, and glance over your shoulder as often as necessary. Try to blend
smoothly
with the traffic flow.
Driving on the Freeway
Once you are on the freeway, adjust your speed to the posted limit or to
the prevailing rate
if it’s slower. Stay in the right lane unless you want to
pass.
If you are on a two-lane freeway, treat the right lane as the slow lane
and the left lane as the passing lane.
If you are on a three-lane freeway, treat the right lane as the slower-speed
through lane, the middle lane as the higher-speed through lane,\
and the left
lane as the passing lane.
Before changing lanes, check your rearview mirrors. Then use yo\
ur turn
signal.
Just before you leave the lane, glance quickly over your shoulder to make
sure there isn’t another vehicle in your “blind” spot.
If
you are moving from an outside to a center lane on a freeway having
more than
two lanes, make sure another vehicle isn’t about to move into
the same spot.
Look at the vehicles two lanes over and watch for telltale
signs: turn signals flashing, an increase
in speed, or moving toward the
edge
of the lane. Be prepared to delay your move.
Once you are moving on the freeway, make certain you allow a
reasonable following distance. Expect to move slightly slower at night.
Leaving the Freeway
When you want to leave the freeway, move to the proper lane well in
advance. Dashing across lanes at the last minute is dangerous.
If you miss
your exit do not, under any circumstances, stop and back up. Drive on to
the next exit.
At each exit point is a deceleration lane. Ideally it should \
be long enough
for you to enter it at freeway speed (after signaling, of course) and then
do your braking before moving onto the exit ramp. Unfortunately, not all
deceleration lanes are long enough
-- some are too short for all the
braking. Decide when to start braking.
If you must brake on the through
lane, and
if there is traffic close behind you, you can allow a little extra
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine time and flash your brake lights (in addition to your turn signal) as extra
warning that you are about to slow down and exit.
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.
The exit speed is usually posted. Reduce your speed according
to your
speedometer, not to your sense
of motion. After driving for any distance
at higher speeds, you may tend to think you are going slower than you
actually are. For example,
40 mph (65 km/h) might seem like only 20 mph
(30 km/h). Obviously, this could lead to serious trouble on a ramp
designed for
20 mph (30 km/h)!
DMNG A LONG DISTANCE
Although most long trips today are made on freeways, there are still
many made
on regular highways.
Long-distance driving on freeways and regular highways is the same
in
some ways. The trip has to be planned and the vehicle prepared, you
drive at higher-than-city speeds, and there are longer turns behind
the
wheel. You’ll enjoy your trip more if you and your vehicle are in good
shape. Here are some tips for a successful long trip.
BEFORE LEAWNG ONA LONG THP
Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well rested. If you must start when
you’re not fresh
-- such as after a day’s work -- don’t plan to make too
many miles that first part of
the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and
shoes
you can easily drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it serviced and
maintained, it’s ready to
go. If it needs service, have it done before
starting out. Of course, you’ll find experienced and able service experts
in
Cadillac dealerships all across North America. They’ll be ready and
willing to help
if you need it.
Here are some things
you can check before a trip:
Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir full? Are all windows clean
inside and outside?
Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?
0 Fuel. Enpine Oil. Other Fluids: Have you checked all levels?
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 0 Lights: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
0 Tires: They are vitally important to a safe, trouble-free trip. Is the
tread good enough for long-distance driving? Are the tires all inflated
to the recommended pressure?
Weather Forecasts: What’s the weather outlook along your route?
Should you delay your trip a short time to avoid a major storm
system?
0 Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?
ON THE ROAD
Unless you are the only driver, it is good to share the driving task with
others. Limit turns behind the wheel
to about 100 miles (160 km) or two
hours at
a sitting. Then, either change drivers or stop for some
refreshment like coffee, tea or soft drinks and some limbering up. But
do
stop and move around. Eat lightly along the way. Heavier meals tend to
make some people sleepy.
On two-lane highways or
undivided multilane highways that do not have
controlled access, you’ll want to watch for some situations not usually
found
on freeways. Examples are: stop signs and signals, shopping centers
with direct access
to the highway, no passing zones and school zones,
vehicles turning left and right off the road, pedestrians, cyclists, parked
vehicles, and
even animals.
I
HIGWAY HypNosIS
Is there actually such a condition as “highway hypnosis”? Or is it just
plain falling asleep at the wheel? Call it highway hypnosis, lack of
awareness, or whatever.
There is something about an easy stretch
of road with the same scenery,
along with the hum
of the tires on the road, the drone of the engine, and
the rush
of the wind against the vehicle that can make you sleepy. Don’t
let it happen
to you! If it does, your vehicle can leave the road in less than
a second. and you could crash and be injured.
What can you do about highway hypnosis? First, be aware that it can
happen.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Then here are some tips:
Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with a comfortably cool
Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead and to the sides. Check
interior.
your rearview mirrors frequently and your instruments from time
to
time. This can help you avoid a fixed stare.
Wear good sunglasses in bright light. Glare can cause drowsiness. But
don't wear sunglasses at night. They will drastically reduce your
overall vision at the
very time you need all the seeing power you have.
If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest, service, or parking area
and take a nap, get some exercise,
or both. For safety, treat drowsiness
on the highway as an emergency.
As in any driving situation, keep pace with traffic and allow adequate
following distances.
HILL AND MOUNTMN ROADS
Driving on steep hills or mountains is different from driving in flat or
rolling terrain.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you’re planning to visit there,
here are some tips that can make your trips safer and more enjoyable.
Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid levels and also the
brakes, tires, cooling system and transaxle. These parts can work hard
on mountain roads.
Know how to go down hills. The most important thing to know is this:
let your engine do some of the slowing down. Don’t make your brakes
do it all. Shift to a lower gear when you go down a stcep or long hill.
That way, you will slow down without excessive we of !wr hrilkcs.
I
A CAUTION:
If you don’t shift down, your brakes could get so hot that tht?
wouldn’t work well. You would then have pr braking or men
none going down a hill. You could crash. Shin down to let your
engine assist your brakes on a steep downhill slope.
A CAUTION
Coasting downhill in “N” (Neutral) or with the ignition off is
dangerous. Your brakes will have
to do all the work of slowing
down. They could get
so hot that they wouldn’t work well. You
could crash. Always have your engine running and your vehicle
in
gear when you go downhill.
Know how to go uphill. You may want to shift down to a lower gear.
The lower gears help cool your engine and transaxle, and you can
climb the hill better.
Stay in your own lane when driving on two-lane roads in hills or
mountains. Don’t swing wide or cut across the center
of the road.
Drive at speeds that let you
stay in your own lane. That way, you won’t
be surprised
by a vehicle coming toward you in the same lane.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine It takes longer to pass another vehicle when you're going uphill. You'll
want to leave extra room
to pass. If a vehicle is passing you and
doesn't have enough
room, slow down to make it easier for the other
vehicle to
get by.
0 As you go over the top of a hill, be alert. There could be something in
your lane,
like a stalled car or an accident.
You may see highway signs on mountains that warn of special
problems. Examples are long grades, passing or no-passing zones, a
falling
rocks area, or winding roads. Be alert to these and take
appropriate action.
Winter driving can present special problems. See "Winter Driving" in
the Index.
Parking on Hills
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Another part of this manual tells how to use your parking brake (see
"Parking
Brake" in the Index). But on a mountain or steep hill, you can
do one more thing. You can turn your front wheels to keep your vehicle
from rolling downhill or out into traffic.
Here's
how:
Parking Downhill
Parking Uphill
Turn your wheels to
the
right.
You don't have to jam
your tires against the
curb,
if there is a curb.
A gentle contact is all
you need.
If there is
a curb, turn
your wheels to the left
if the curb is
at the
right side
of your
vehicle.
-4
a-
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