Getting Familiar with Off-Road Driving

It is a good idea to practice in an area that is safe and close to home before you go into the wilderness. Off-road driving does require some new and different driving skills. Here is what we mean.

Tune your senses to different kinds of signals.

Your eyes, for example, need to constantly sweep the terrain for unexpected obstacles. Your ears need to listen for unusual tire or engine sounds.

With your arms, hands, feet, and body, you will need to respond to vibrations and vehicle bounce.

Controlling your vehicle is the key to successful off-road driving. One of the best ways to control your vehicle is to control your speed.

Here are some things to keep in mind. At higher speeds:

• You approach things faster and you have less time to scan the terrain for obstacles.
• You have less time to react.
• You have more vehicle bounce when you drive over obstacles.
• You will need more distance for braking, especially since you are on an unpaved surface.

CAUTION:
When you are driving off-road, bouncing and quick changes in direction can easily throw you out of position. This could cause you to lose control and crash. So, whether you are driving on or off the road, you and your passengers should wear safety belts.

    See also:

    Traction Off Light
    This light comes on briefly while starting the engine. If it does not, have the vehicle serviced by your dealer. This light comes on when the Traction Control System (TCS) has been turned ...

    Bluetooth (Overview)
    Vehicles with a Bluetooth system can use a Bluetooth-capable cell phone with a Hands-Free Profile to make and receive phone calls. The infotainment system and voice recognition are used to control the ...

    Vehicle and Power Issues
    OnStar services require a vehicle electrical system, wireless service, and GPS satellite technologies to be available and operating for features to function properly. These systems may not o ...