Driving and Operating 9-11. Pass with caution.. Keep windshield wipingequipment in good shape.. Keep the windshield washer fluidreservoir filled.. Have good tires with propertread depth. See Tires onpage 10‑39.. Turn off cruise control.Highway HypnosisAlways be alert and pay attention toyour surroundings while driving.If you become tired or sleepy, find asafe place to park the vehicleand rest.Other driving tips include:. Keep the vehicle well ventilated.. Keep the interiortemperature cool.. Keep your eyes moving — scanthe road ahead and to the sides.. Check the rearview mirror andvehicle instruments often.Hill and Mountain RoadsDriving on steep hills or throughmountains is different than drivingon flat or rolling terrain. Tips fordriving in these conditions include:. Keep the vehicle serviced and ingood shape.. Check all fluid levels and brakes,tires, cooling system, andtransmission.. Shift to a lower gear when goingdown steep or long hills.{ WARNINGIf you do not shift down, thebrakes could get so hot that theywould not work well. You wouldthen have poor braking or evennone going down a hill. You couldcrash. Shift down to let the engineassist the brakes on a steepdownhill slope.{ WARNINGCoasting downhill in N (Neutral)or with the ignition off isdangerous. The brakes will haveto do all the work of slowing downand they could get so hot thatthey would not work well. Youwould then have poor braking oreven none going down a hill. Youcould crash. Always have theengine running and the vehicle ingear when going downhill.. Stay in your own lane. Do notswing wide or cut across thecenter of the road. Drive atspeeds that let you stay in yourown lane.. Be alert on top of hills;something could be in your lane(stalled car, accident).
