Good Driving Practices

• Never shift the shift lever from P (Park) or N (Neutral) into any other position while the accelerator pedal is depressed.
• Never shift the shift lever to P (Park) while the vehicle is moving.
• Make sure the vehicle is completely stopped before attempting to shift into R (Reverse) or D (Drive).
• Never turn off the engine and coast down a hill. This can be extremely dangerous. Always leave the vehicle in gear when driving.
• Do not "ride" the brakes. This may cause them to overheat and fail. Instead, when driving down a long hill, reduce speed and shift to a lower gear. When you do this, engine braking will help slow the vehicle.
• Slow down before shifting to a lower gear. Otherwise, the lower gear may not engage.
• Always use the parking brake. Do not rely on shifting into P (Park) to keep the vehicle from moving.
• Exercise extreme caution when driving on slippery surfaces. Be especially careful when braking, accelerating, or shifting gears. On slippery surfaces, a sudden change in vehicle speed may cause the drive wheels to lose traction with the road, and the vehicle may go out of control.
• Optimum vehicle performance and fuel economy are achieved by depressing and releasing the accelerator pedal smoothly.

WARNING

• Always wear your seat belt! In a collision, an unbelted passenger is significantly more likely to be seriously injured or killed than a properly belted passenger.
• Avoid high speeds in curves or turns.
• Do not make quick steering movements, such as sudden lane changes or rapid, sharp turns.
• The risk of rollover increases greatly if you lose control of your vehicle at highway speeds.
• Loss of control often occurs when two or more wheels drop off the paved surface and the driver overcorrects the steering to return to the pavement.
• If your vehicle leaves the paved surface, do not turn sharply. Instead, brake gently before steering back onto the road.
• Never exceed the posted speed limits.

WARNING

If your vehicle becomes stuck in snow, mud, sand, etc., you may try rocking the vehicle by shifting it forward and backward. Do not attempt this procedure if people or objects are located anywhere near the vehicle. While rocking the vehicle, it may suddenly move forward or backward when it breaks free, causing injury or damage to nearby persons or objects.

Driving Up a Steep Hill from a Standstill

To drive up a steep hill from a standstill, depress the brake pedal and shift the shift lever to the D (Drive) position. Select the appropriate gear depending on the load weight and steepness of the slope, and release the parking brake. Gradually depress the accelerator while gradually releasing the service brake.