174 DRIVING AND OPERATINGRefer to the infotainment section formore information on using thatsystem and the navigation system,if equipped, including pairing andusing a cell phone.Defensive DrivingDefensive driving means “alwaysexpect the unexpected.” The first stepin driving defensively is to wear theseat belt. See Seat Belts 0 66.. Assume that other road users(pedestrians, bicyclists, and otherdrivers) are going to be carelessand make mistakes. Anticipatewhat they might do and be ready.. Allow enough following distancebetween you and the driver infront of you.. Focus on the task of driving.Control of a VehicleBraking, steering, and accelerating areimportant factors in helping to controla vehicle while driving.BrakingBraking action involves perceptiontime and reaction time. Deciding topush the brake pedal is perceptiontime. Actually doing it isreaction time.Average driver reaction time is aboutthree-quarters of a second. In thattime, a vehicle moving at 100 km/h(60 mph) travels 20 m (66 ft), whichcould be a lot of distance in anemergency.Helpful braking tips to keep in mindinclude:. Keep enough distance betweenyou and the vehicle in frontof you.. Avoid needless heavy braking.. Keep pace with traffic.If the engine ever stops while thevehicle is being driven, brake normallybut do not pump the brakes. Doing socould make the pedal harder to pushdown. If the engine stops, there willbe some power brake assist but it willbe used when the brake is applied.Once the power assist is used up, itcan take longer to stop and the brakepedal will be harder to push.SteeringVariable Effort SteeringThe vehicle has a steering system thatvaries the amount of effort required tosteer the vehicle in relation to thespeed of the vehicle.The amount of steering effort requiredis less at slower speeds to make thevehicle more maneuverable and easierto park. At faster speeds, the steeringeffort increases to provide a sport-likefeel to the steering. This providesmaximum control and stability.Electric Power SteeringThe vehicle has electric powersteering. It does not have powersteering fluid. Regular maintenance isnot required.If power steering assist is lost due to asystem malfunction, the vehicle canbe steered, but may require increasedeffort. See your dealer if there is aproblem.
