Oldsmobile Intrigue (2002 year). Manual - part 13

4-15

D Do not get too close to the vehicle you want to pass

while you’re awaiting an opportunity. For one thing,
following too closely reduces your area of vision,
especially if you’re following a larger vehicle. 
Also, you won’t have adequate space if the vehicle
ahead suddenly slows or stops. Keep back a
reasonable distance.

D When it looks like a chance to pass is coming up,

start to accelerate but stay in the right lane and don’t
get too close. Time your move so you will be
increasing speed as the time comes to move into the
other lane. If the way is clear to pass, you will have a
“running start” that more than makes up for the
distance you would lose by dropping back. And if
something happens to cause you to cancel your pass,
you need only slow down and drop back again and
wait for another opportunity.

D If other cars are lined up to pass a slow vehicle, wait

your turn. But take care that someone isn’t trying to
pass you as you pull out to pass the slow vehicle.
Remember to glance over your shoulder and check
the blind spot.

D Check your mirrors, glance over your shoulder, and

start your left lane change signal before moving out
of the right lane to pass. When you are far enough
ahead of the passed vehicle to see its front in your
inside mirror, activate your right lane change signal
and move back into the right lane. (Remember that
your right outside mirror is convex. The vehicle you
just passed may seem to be farther away from you
than it really is.)

D Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time 

on two

-

lane roads. Reconsider before passing the

next vehicle.

D Don’t overtake a slowly moving vehicle too rapidly.

Even though the brake lamps are not flashing, it may
be slowing down or starting to turn.

D If you’re being passed, make it easy for the

following driver to get ahead of you. Perhaps you
can ease a little to the right.

4-16

Loss of Control

Let’s review what driving experts say about what
happens when the three control systems (brakes, steering
and acceleration) don’t have enough friction where the
tires meet the road to do what the driver has asked.

In any emergency, don’t give up. Keep trying to 
steer and constantly seek an escape route or area of 
less danger.

Skidding

In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking 
reasonable care suited to existing conditions, and 
by not “overdriving” those conditions. But skids are
always possible.

The three types of skids correspond to your vehicle’s
three control systems. In the braking skid, your wheels
aren’t rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, too
much speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip and
lose cornering force. And in the acceleration skid, too
much throttle causes the driving wheels to spin.

A cornering skid is best handled by easing your foot off
the accelerator pedal.

Remember: Any traction control system helps avoid
only the acceleration skid.

If your traction control system is off, then an
acceleration skid is also best handled by easing your
foot off the accelerator pedal.

If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want the
vehicle to go. If you start steering quickly enough, your
vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for a
second skid if it occurs.

If your vehicle is equipped with the Precision Control
System, the LOW TRAC light may come on. See “Low
Traction Active (LOW TRAC) Light” in the Index.

Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice,
gravel or other material is on the road. For safety, you’ll
want to slow down and adjust your driving to these
conditions. It is important to slow down on slippery
surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and
vehicle control more limited.

4-17

While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try
your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration or
braking (including engine braking by shifting to a lower
gear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires to slide.
You may not realize the surface is slippery until your
vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning 
clues 

--

 such as enough water, ice or packed snow on

the road to make a “mirrored surface” 

--

 and slow 

down when you have any doubt.

Remember: Any anti

-

lock brake system (ABS) helps

avoid only the braking skid.

Driving at Night

Night driving is more dangerous than day driving. 
One reason is that some drivers are likely to be 
impaired 

--

 by alcohol or drugs, with night vision

problems, or by fatigue.

4-18

Here are some tips on night driving.
D Drive defensively.
D Don’t drink and drive.
D Adjust your inside rearview mirror to reduce the

glare from headlamps behind you.

D Since you can’t see as well, you may need to 

slow down and keep more space between you and
other vehicles.

D Slow down, especially on higher speed roads. Your

headlamps can light up only so much road ahead.

D In remote areas, watch for animals.
D If you’re tired, pull off the road in a safe place 

and rest.

No one can see as well at night as in the daytime. But as
we get older these differences increase. A 50

-

year

-

old

driver may require at least twice as much light to see the
same thing at night as a 20

-

year

-

old.

What you do in the daytime can also affect your night
vision. For example, if you spend the day in bright
sunshine you are wise to wear sunglasses. Your eyes 
will have less trouble adjusting to night. But if you’re
driving, don’t wear sunglasses at night.

They may cut down on glare from headlamps, but they
also make a lot of things invisible.

You can be temporarily blinded by approaching
headlamps. It can take a second or two, or even several
seconds, for your eyes to readjust to the dark. When you
are faced with severe glare (as from a driver who
doesn’t lower the high beams, or a vehicle with
misaimed headlamps), slow down a little. Avoid staring
directly into the approaching headlamps.

Keep your windshield and all the glass on your vehicle
clean 

--

 inside and out. Glare at night is made much

worse by dirt on the glass. Even the inside of the glass
can build up a film caused by dust. Dirty glass makes
lights dazzle and flash more than clean glass would,
making the pupils of your eyes contract repeatedly.

Remember that your headlamps light up far less of a
roadway when you are in a turn or curve. Keep your
eyes moving; that way, it’s easier to pick out dimly
lighted objects. Just as your headlamps should be
checked regularly for proper aim, so should your eyes
be examined regularly. Some drivers suffer from night
blindness 

--

 the inability to see in dim light 

--

 and 

aren’t even aware of it.

4-19

Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads

Rain and wet roads can mean driving trouble. On a wet
road, you can’t stop, accelerate or turn as well because
your tire

-

to

-

road traction isn’t as good as on dry roads.

And, if your tires don’t have much tread left, you’ll get
even less traction. It’s always wise to go slower and be
cautious if rain starts to fall while you are driving. The
surface may get wet suddenly when your reflexes are
tuned for driving on dry pavement.

The heavier the rain, the harder it is to see. Even if your
windshield wiper blades are in good shape, a heavy rain
can make it harder to see road signs and traffic signals,
pavement markings, the edge of the road and even
people walking.

It’s wise to keep your windshield wiping equipment in
good shape and keep your windshield washer tank filled
with washer fluid. Replace your windshield wiper
inserts when they show signs of streaking or missing
areas on the windshield, or when strips of rubber start to
separate from the inserts.

4-20

Driving too fast through large water puddles or even
going through some car washes can cause problems, too.
The water may affect your brakes. Try to avoid puddles.
But if you can’t, try to slow down before you hit them.

CAUTION:

Wet brakes can cause accidents. They won’t work
as well in a quick stop and may cause pulling to
one side. You could lose control of the vehicle.

After driving through a large puddle of water or
a car wash, apply your brake pedal lightly until
your brakes work normally.

Hydroplaning

Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much water can build up
under your tires that they can actually ride on the water.
This can happen if the road is wet enough and you’re
going fast enough. When your vehicle is hydroplaning,
it has little or no contact with the road.

4-21

Hydroplaning doesn’t happen often. But it can if your
tires do not have much tread or if the pressure in one or
more is low. It can happen if a lot of water is standing on
the road. If you can see reflections from trees, telephone
poles or other vehicles, and raindrops “dimple” the
water’s surface, there could be hydroplaning.

Hydroplaning usually happens at higher speeds. There
just isn’t a hard and fast rule about hydroplaning. The
best advice is to slow down when it is raining.

Driving Through Deep Standing Water

NOTICE:

If you drive too quickly through deep puddles or
standing water, water can come in through your
engine’s air intake and badly damage your
engine. Never drive through water that is slightly
lower than the underbody of your vehicle. If you
can’t avoid deep puddles or standing water, drive
through them very slowly.

Driving Through Flowing Water

CAUTION:

Flowing or rushing water creates strong forces. 
If you try to drive through flowing water, as you
might at a low water crossing, your vehicle can be
carried away. As little as six inches of flowing
water can carry away a smaller vehicle. If this
happens, you and other vehicle occupants could
drown. Don’t ignore police warning signs, and
otherwise be very cautious about trying to drive
through flowing water.

Some Other Rainy Weather Tips

D Besides slowing down, allow some extra following

distance. And be especially careful when you pass
another vehicle. Allow yourself more clear room
ahead, and be prepared to have your view restricted
by road spray.

D Have good tires with proper tread depth. See “Tires”

in the Index.

4-22

City Driving

One of the biggest problems with city streets is the
amount of traffic on them. You’ll want to watch out for
what the other drivers are doing and pay attention to
traffic signals.

Here are ways to increase your safety in city driving:
D Know the best way to get to where you are 

going. Get a city map and plan your trip into an
unknown part of the city just as you would for a
cross

-

country trip.

D Try to use the freeways that rim and crisscross most

large cities. You’ll save time and energy. See the
next part, “Freeway Driving.”

D Treat a green light as a warning signal. A traffic 

light is there because the corner is busy enough to
need it. When a light turns green, and just before 
you start to move, check both ways for vehicles that
have not cleared the intersection or may be running
the red light.

4-23

Freeway Driving

Mile for mile, freeways (also called thruways, parkways,
expressways, turnpikes or superhighways) are the safest
of all roads. But they have their own special rules.

The most important advice on freeway driving is: Keep
up with traffic and keep to the right. Drive at the same
speed most of the other drivers are driving. Too

-

fast or

too

-

slow driving breaks a smooth traffic flow. Treat the

left lane on a freeway as a passing lane.

At the entrance, there is usually a ramp that leads to the
freeway. If you have a clear view of the freeway as you
drive along the entrance ramp, you should begin to
check traffic. Try to determine where you expect to
blend with the flow. Try to merge into the gap at close to
the prevailing speed. Switch on your turn signal, check
your mirrors and glance over your shoulder as often as
necessary. Try to blend smoothly with the traffic flow.

Once you are on the freeway, adjust your speed to the
posted limit or to the prevailing rate if it’s slower. Stay
in the right lane unless you want to pass.

Before changing lanes, check your mirrors. Then use
your turn signal.

Just before you leave the lane, glance quickly over your
shoulder to make sure there isn’t another vehicle in your
“blind” spot.

4-24

Once you are moving on the freeway, make certain you
allow a reasonable following distance. Expect to move
slightly slower at night.

When you want to leave the freeway, move to the proper
lane well in advance. If you miss your exit, do not,
under any circumstances, stop and back up. Drive on to
the next exit.

The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.

The exit speed is usually posted.

Reduce your speed according to your speedometer, not
to your sense of motion. After driving for any distance
at higher speeds, you may tend to think you are going
slower than you actually are.

Before Leaving on a Long Trip

Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well rested. If you
must start when you’re not fresh 

--

 such as after a day’s

work 

--

 don’t plan to make too many miles that first part

of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes you
can easily drive in.

Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it’s ready to go. If it needs
service, have it done before starting out. Of course,
you’ll find experienced and able service experts in
Oldsmobile dealerships all across North America.
They’ll be ready and willing to help if you need it.

Here are some things you can check before a trip:
D Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir full? 

Are all windows clean inside and outside?

D Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?
D Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked

all levels?

D Lamps: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
D Tires: They are vitally important to a safe,

trouble

-

free trip. Is the tread good enough for

long

-

distance driving? Are the tires all inflated to the

recommended pressure?

D Weather Forecasts: What’s the weather outlook

along your route? Should you delay your trip a short
time to avoid a major storm system?

D Maps: Do you have up

-

to

-

date maps?

4-25

Highway Hypnosis

Is there actually such a condition as “highway
hypnosis”? Or is it just plain falling asleep at 
the wheel? Call it highway hypnosis, lack of awareness,
or whatever.

There is something about an easy stretch of road with
the same scenery, along with the hum of the tires on 
the road, the drone of the engine, and the rush of the
wind against the vehicle that can make you sleepy.
Don’t let it happen to you! If it does, your vehicle 
can leave the road in less than a second, and you 
could crash and be injured.

What can you do about highway hypnosis? First, be
aware that it can happen.

Then here are some tips:
D Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with a

comfortably cool interior.

D Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead and to

the sides. Check your rearview mirrors and your
instruments frequently.

D If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest, service

or parking area and take a nap, get some exercise, or
both. For safety, treat drowsiness on the highway as
an emergency.

4-26

Hill and Mountain Roads

Driving on steep hills or mountains is different from
driving in flat or rolling terrain.

If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you’re
planning to visit there, here are some tips that can make
your trips safer and more enjoyable.
D Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid

levels and also the brakes, tires, cooling system 
and transaxle. These parts can work hard on
mountain roads.

D Know how to go down hills. The most important

thing to know is this: let your engine do some of 
the slowing down. Shift to a lower gear when you 
go down a steep or long hill.

CAUTION:

If you don’t shift down, your brakes could get 
so hot that they wouldn’t work well. You would
then have poor braking or even none going 
down a hill. You could crash. Shift down to let
your engine assist your brakes on a steep
downhill slope.

4-27

CAUTION:

Coasting downhill in NEUTRAL (N) or with the
ignition off is dangerous. Your brakes will have to
do all the work of slowing down. They could get so
hot that they wouldn’t work well. You would then
have poor braking or even none going down a hill.
You could crash. Always have your engine running
and your vehicle in gear when you go downhill.

D Know how to go uphill. You may want to shift down

to a lower gear. The lower gears help cool your engine
and transaxle, and you can climb the hill better.

D Stay in your own lane when driving on two

-

lane

roads in hills or mountains. Don’t swing wide or cut
across the center of the road. Drive at speeds that let
you stay in your own lane.

D As you go over the top of a hill, be alert. There could be

something in your lane, like a stalled car or an accident.

D You may see highway signs on mountains that warn of

special problems. Examples are long grades, passing or
no

-

passing zones, a falling rocks area or winding

roads. Be alert to these and take appropriate action.

Winter Driving

Here are some tips for winter driving:
D Have your vehicle in good shape for winter.
D You may want to put winter emergency supplies in

your trunk.

4-28

Include an ice scraper, a small brush or broom, a supply
of windshield washer fluid, a rag, some winter outer
clothing, a small shovel, a flashlight, a red cloth and a
couple of reflective warning triangles. And, if you will
be driving under severe conditions, include a small bag
of sand, a piece of old carpet or a couple of burlap bags
to help provide traction. Be sure you properly secure
these items in your vehicle.

Driving on Snow or Ice

Most of the time, those places where your tires meet the
road probably have good traction.

However, if there is snow or ice between your tires and
the road, you can have a very slippery situation. You’ll
have a lot less traction or “grip” and will need to be 
very careful.

4-29

What’s the worst time for this? “Wet ice.” Very cold
snow or ice can be slick and hard to drive on. But wet
ice can be even more trouble because it may offer the
least traction of all. You can get wet ice when it’s about
freezing (32

_F; 0_C) and freezing rain begins to fall.

Try to avoid driving on wet ice until salt and sand 
crews can get there.

Whatever the condition 

--

 smooth ice, packed, blowing

or loose snow 

--

 drive with caution.

If you have traction control, keep the system on. It will
improve your ability to accelerate when driving on a
slippery road. Even though your vehicle has a traction
control system, you’ll want to slow down and adjust
your driving to the road conditions. See “Traction
Control System” in the Index.

If you don’t have the traction control system, accelerate
gently. Try not to break the fragile traction. If you
accelerate too fast, the drive wheels will spin and polish
the surface under the tires even more.

Your anti

-

lock brakes improve your vehicle’s stability

when you make a hard stop on a slippery road. Even
though you have the anti

-

lock braking system, you’ll

want to begin stopping sooner than you would on dry
pavement. See “Anti

-

Lock” in the Index.

D Allow greater following distance on any 

slippery road.

D Watch for slippery spots. The road might be fine

until you hit a spot that’s covered with ice. On an
otherwise clear road, ice patches may appear in
shaded areas where the sun can’t reach: around
clumps of trees, behind buildings or under bridges.
Sometimes the surface of a curve or an overpass may
remain icy when the surrounding roads are clear. If
you see a patch of ice ahead of you, brake before you
are on it. Try not to brake while you’re actually on
the ice, and avoid sudden steering maneuvers.

4-30

If You’re Caught in a Blizzard

If you are stopped by heavy snow, you could be in a
serious situation. You should probably stay with your
vehicle unless you know for sure that you are near help
and you can hike through the snow. Here are some
things to do to summon help and keep yourself and 
your passengers safe:
D Turn on your hazard flashers.

D Tie a red cloth to your vehicle to alert police that

you’ve been stopped by the snow.

D Put on extra clothing or wrap a blanket around you.

If you have no blankets or extra clothing, make body
insulators from newspapers, burlap bags, rags, floor
mats 

--

 anything you can wrap around yourself or

tuck under your clothing to keep warm.

You can run the engine to keep warm, but be careful.