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.
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
1-22.
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.
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.
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