When you drive over obstacles or rough terrain, keep afirm grip on the steering wheel. Ruts, troughs orother surface features can jerk the wheel out of yourhands if you are 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 cannot control thevehicle as well or at all.Because you will be on an unpaved surface, it isespecially important to avoid sudden acceleration,sudden turns or sudden braking.In a way, off-road driving requires a different kind ofalertness from driving on paved roads and highways.There are no road signs, posted speed limits orsignal lights. You have to use your own good judgmentabout what is safe and what is not.Drinking and driving can be very dangerous on anyroad. And this is certainly true for off-road driving.At the very time you need special alertness and drivingskills, your reflexes, perceptions and judgment canbe affected by even a small amount of alcohol.You could have a serious — or even fatal — accident ifyou drink and drive or ride with a driver who hasbeen drinking. See Drunken Driving on page 4-3.Driving on Off-Road HillsOff-road driving often takes you up, down or across ahill. Driving safely on hills requires good judgmentand understanding of what your vehicle can and cannotdo. There are some hills that simply cannot be driven,no matter how well built the vehicle.{CAUTION:Many hills are simply too steep for any vehicle.If you drive up them, you will stall. If you drivedown them, you cannot control your speed.If you drive across them, you will roll over.You could be seriously injured or killed. If youhave any doubt about the steepness, do notdrive the hill.4-21
