Your
Driving
and
the
Road
0
Does the travel take you uphill or
downhill? (There’s more discussion of
these subjects later.)
change direction quickly?
0
Will you have
to
stop suddenly or
When you drive over obstacles or rough
terrain, keep a firm grip
on
the steering
wheel.
Ruts,
troughs, or other surface
features can jerk the wheel out of your
hands
if
you’re not prepared.
When you drive over bumps, rocks, or
other obstacles, your wheels can leave
the
ground. If this happens, even
with
one or
two wheels, you can’t control the vehicle
as well or at all.
Because you will be on an unpaved
surface,
it’s
especially important
to
avoid
sudden acceleration, sudden turns, or
sudden braking.
In a way, off-road driving requires a
different kind of alertness from driving on
paved roads and highways. There are no
road signs, posted speed limits or signal
lights.
You
have to use your own good
judgment about what is safe and what
isn’t.
Drinking and driving can be very
dangerous on any road. And this
is
certainly true for off-road driving. At
the
.
.
.I10
very time you need special alertness and
driving skills, your reflexes, perceptions
and judgment can be affected by even a
small amount of alcohol.
You
could have
a
serious
-
or even fatal
-
accident
if
you
drink and drive or ride
with
a driver
who has been drinking. (See “Drunken
Driving”
in
the Index.)
Driving
On
Off-Road Hills
Off-road driving often takes you
up,
jown, or across a
hill.
Driving safely on
hills requires good judgment and an
understanding of what your vehicle can
md can’t do. There are some hills that
;imply can’t be driven, no matter how
well built the vehicle.
Approaching a Hill
When you approach a
hill,
you need to
decide if
it’s
one of those hills that’s just
too
steep to climb, descend, or cross.
Steepness can be hard
to
judge. On a very
small
hill,
for example, there may be
a
smooth, constant incline with only a small
change
in
elevation where you can easily
see all the way to the top. On a large hill,
the incline may get steeper as you near
the top, but you may not see this because
the crest of
the
hill
is
hidden by bushes,
grass,
or
shrubs.
Here are some other things
to
consider as
you approach a hill.
Is
there a constant incline, or does
the
hill get sharply steeper in places?
Is there good traction on the hillside,
or will the surface cause tire slipping?
Is there a straight path up or down the
hill
so
you won’t have
to
make turning
maneuvers?
Are there obstructions on the hill that
can block your path (boulders, trees,
logs or ruts)?
What’s beyond the hill?
Is
there a cliff,
an embankment, a drop-off, a fence?
Get out and walk the
hill
if
you don’t
know. It’s the smart way to find out.
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