Your Driving, the Road, and
Your Vehicle
Whenever we drive, we are taking on an
important responsibility. This is true for any motor
vehicle — passenger car, van, truck, sport utility.
Driver behavior, the driving environment, and the
vehicle’s design all affect how well a vehicle
performs. But statistics show that the most
important factor, by far, is how we drive.
Knowing how these three factors work together can
help you understand how your vehicle handles and
what you can do to avoid many types of crashes,
including a rollover crash.
Driver Behavior
The single most important thing is this: everyone in
the vehicle, including the driver, should buckle up.
SeeSafety Belts: They Are for Everyone on
page 20. In fact, most serious injuries and fatalities
to unbelted occupants can be reduced or prevented
by the use of safety belts. In a rollover crash, an
unbelted person is signi cantly more likely to die
than a person wearing a seat belt. In addition,
avoiding excessive speed, sudden or abrupt turns,and drunken or aggressive driving can help make
trips safer and avoid the possibility of a crash,
especially a rollover crash. This section provides
many useful tips to help you drive more safely.
Driving Environment
You can also help avoid a rollover or other type of
crash by being prepared for driving in inclement
weather, at night, or during other times where
visibility or traction may be limited, such as on
curves, slippery roads, or hilly terrain. Unfamiliar
surroundings can also have hidden hazards.
To help you learn more about driving in different
conditions, this section contains information about
city, freeway, and off-road driving, as well as other
hints for driving in various weather conditions.
Vehicle Design
According to the U.S. Department of
Transportation, utility vehicles have a signi cantly
higher rollover rate than other types of vehicles.
Utility vehicles do have higher ground clearance
and a narrower track or shorter wheelbase than
passenger cars, to make them more capable for
off-road driving.
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