User manual PONTIAC AZTEK 2003

[. . . ] The 2003 PontiacAztekOwnerManual SeatsandRestraintSystems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1 Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2 Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7 Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [. . . ] 4-16 4- 1 Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle Whenever we drive, we're 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. 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 significantly 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. Specific design characteristics like these give the driver a better view of the road, but also give utility vehicles a higher center of gravity than other types of vehicles. This means that you shouldn't expect a utility vehicle to handle the same way a vehicle with a lower center of gravity, like a car, would in similar situations. Driver Behavior The single most important thing is this: everyone in the vehicle, including the driver, should buckle up. See Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone on page 1-13. 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 significantly 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. 4-2 But driver behavior factors are far more often the cause of a utility vehicle rollover than are environmental or vehicle factors. Safe driver behavior and understanding the environment in which you'll be driving can help avoid a rollover crash in any type of vehicle, including utility vehicles. Defensive Driving The best advice anyone can give about driving is: Drive defensively. Please start with a very important safety device in your vehicle: Buckle up. See Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone on page 1- 13. Defensive driving really means "be ready for anything. " On city streets, rural roads or freeways, it means "always expect the unexpected. " Assume that pedestrians or other drivers are going to be careless and make mistakes. Rear-end collisions are about the most preventable of accidents. It's the best defensive driving maneuver, in both city and rural driving. [. . . ] 4-39 Weight of the Trailer Tongue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-39 What Kind of Engine Oil to Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-16 What to Do with Used Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [. . . ]