1996 Buick Park Avenue Owner's Manual

0 Check your mirrors, glance over your shoulder, andstart your left lane change signal before moving outof the right lane to pass. When you are far enoughahead of the passed vehicle to see its front in yourinside mirror, activate your right lane change signaland move back into the right lane. (Remember thatyour right outside mirror is convex. The vehicle youjust passed may seem to be farther away from youthan it really is.)0 Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time ontwo-lane roads. Reconsider before passing thenext vehicle.0 Don’t overtake a slowly moving vehicle too rapidly.Even though the brake lamps are not flashing, it maybe slowing down or starting to turn.0 If you’re being passed, make it easy for thefollowing driver to get ahead of you. Perhaps youcan ease a little to the right.Loss of ControlLet’s review what driving experts say about whathappens when the three control systems (brakes, steeringand acceleration) don’t have enough friction where thetires meet the road to do what the driver has asked.In any emergency, don’t give up. Keep trying to steer andconstantly seek an escape route or area of less danger.SkiddingIn a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonablecare suited to existing conditions, and by not “overdriving”those conditions. But skids are always possible.The three types of skids correspond to your Buick’sthree control systems. In the braking skid, your wheelsaren’t rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, toomuch speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip andlose cornering force. And in the acceleration skid, toomuch throttle causes the driving wheels to spin.A cornering skid is best handled by easing your foot offthe accelerator pedal.If you have the traction control system, remember: Ithelps avoid only the acceleration skid.If you do not have traction control, or if the system isoff, then an acceleration skid is also best handled byeasing your foot off the accelerator pedal.If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off theaccelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want thevehicle to go. If you start steering quickly enough, yourvehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for asecond skid if it occurs.