Defensive Driving

Defensive driving means “always expect the unexpected.” The first step in driving defensively is to wear the safety belt. See Safety Belts on page 3‑15.

• Assume that other road users (pedestrians, bicyclists, and other drivers) are going to be careless and make mistakes.

Anticipate what they might do and be ready.

• Allow enough following distance between you and the driver in front of you.

• Focus on the task of driving.

    See also:

    Checking Brake Fluid
    Check brake fluid by looking at the brake fluid reservoir. See Engine Compartment Overview on page 10‑6. The fluid level should be above MIN. If it is not, have the brake hydraulic system che ...

    Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge
    Metric English This gauge shows the engine coolant temperature. Under normal driving conditions the gauge will read approximately 100°C (210°F) or less. If the gauge pointer is near 125°C (26 ...

    Brakes
    This vehicle has disc brakes. Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that make a high-pitched warning sound when the brake pads are worn and new pads are needed. The sound can come and go o ...