Buick Enclave: Highway Hypnosis. Hill and Mountain Roads. Winter Driving
Highway Hypnosis
Always remain alert and pay close attention to your surroundings while driving. Long, steady highway travel can sometimes cause a driver to become less aware of speed, distance, and road conditions. This relaxed but unfocused state is often called highway hypnosis.
If you become tired or sleepy, find a safe place to park the vehicle and rest. Do not try to overcome fatigue by simply turning up the radio, opening a window, or increasing speed. These actions may provide a brief sense of alertness, but they do not replace real rest.
Other driving tips include:
► Keep the vehicle well ventilated. Fresh airflow can help the cabin feel more comfortable during long-distance travel. ► Keep the interior temperature cool. A very warm cabin can increase drowsiness and reduce concentration. ► Keep your eyes moving — scan the road ahead and to the sides. Watch for brake lights, lane changes, road debris, animals, work zones, and changes in traffic flow. ► Check the rearview mirror and vehicle instruments often. Regular mirror and gauge checks help the driver remain engaged with the driving environment.On long trips in the Buick Enclave, plan rest stops before fatigue becomes serious. Stretching, walking briefly, drinking water, and taking a proper break can help maintain focus and reduce the risk of drifting attention.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through mountains is different than driving on flat or gently rolling terrain. Grades can affect speed, braking, engine load, and transmission operation. Curves may be sharper, visibility may be reduced, and road shoulders may be narrow or uneven.
Tips for driving in these conditions include:
► Keep the vehicle serviced and in good shape. Mountain driving places extra demand on the engine, brakes, cooling system, tires, and transmission. ► Check all fluid levels and brakes, tires, cooling system, and transmission. Proper maintenance is especially important before a long trip through steep or remote areas.► Shift to a lower gear when going down steep or long hills. Lower gearing allows the engine to help slow the vehicle and reduces the amount of work required from the brakes.
WARNING
If you do not shift down, the brakes could get so hot that they would not work
well. You would then have poor braking or even none going down a hill. You could
crash. Shift down to let the engine assist the brakes on a steep downhill slope.
WARNING
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral) or with the ignition off is dangerous. The brakes
will have to do all the work of slowing down and they could get so hot that they
would not work well.
You would then have poor braking or even none going down a hill.
You could crash. Always have the engine running and the vehicle in gear when going downhill.
Use the brakes in a controlled way on long downhill grades. Continuous heavy braking can create heat and reduce braking effectiveness. A lower gear helps the vehicle maintain a safer speed without relying only on the brake system.
► Stay in your own lane. Do not swing wide or cut across the center of the road. Drive at speeds that let you stay in your own lane, especially on blind curves and narrow mountain roads. ► Be alert on top of hills; something could be in your lane, such as a stalled vehicle, road debris, an animal, or the scene of an accident.► Pay attention to special road signs, including falling rocks areas, winding roads, long grades, passing or no-passing zones, and speed advisories. Take appropriate action before the hazard is directly in front of the vehicle.
When climbing hills, avoid unnecessary sudden acceleration and watch engine temperature if conditions are demanding. When descending, manage speed early and leave extra room from vehicles ahead. A steady, careful approach helps the Buick Enclave remain composed and predictable on mountain roads.
Weather can change quickly in hilly or mountainous regions. Rain, fog, snow, ice, and strong winds may appear with little warning. Reduce speed, use lights when needed, and avoid passing unless visibility and road markings clearly allow it.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Drive carefully whenever snow, ice, slush, or freezing moisture is present between the tires and the road surface. These conditions reduce traction and make it harder for the vehicle to accelerate, turn, and stop in a predictable way. Wet ice can occur at about 0°C (32°F), especially when freezing rain begins to fall, and it can create one of the most slippery driving surfaces. Avoid driving on wet ice or in freezing rain until road crews have treated the roads with salt, sand, or other traction materials.
Drive with caution no matter how light or severe the winter condition appears. A road may look clear in one area and become slippery only a short distance later. Accelerate gently so traction is not lost. Pressing the accelerator too quickly can cause the wheels to spin, which polishes the surface under the tires and makes it even slicker.
Try not to break the fragile traction between the tires and the road. In winter driving, smooth control is more important than quick movement. Sudden acceleration, hard braking, or sharp steering can cause the tires to lose grip before the driver has time to correct the situation.
If you accelerate too fast, the drive wheels will spin and polish the surface under the tires even more. This can make it harder for the Buick Enclave to move forward and may also make steering less responsive on packed snow or ice.
The Antilock Brake System (ABS) improves vehicle stability during hard stops on slippery roads, but it does not eliminate the need for extra caution. Apply the brakes sooner than you would on dry pavement, and leave more time and space for the vehicle to slow down. ABS can help maintain steering control during braking, but tire grip is still limited by the road surface.
Allow greater following distance on any slippery road and watch carefully for icy spots. Icy patches can occur on otherwise clear roads in shaded areas, near trees, beside buildings, on bridges, and on overpasses. The surface of a curve or an overpass can remain icy when the surrounding road appears dry or clear. Avoid sudden steering maneuvers and hard braking while on ice.
Turn off cruise control on slippery surfaces. The driver should control speed directly in snow, ice, freezing rain, or slush, because traction can change quickly and the vehicle may need an immediate speed adjustment.
When winter roads are uncertain, reduce speed before entering a curve, brake gently while the vehicle is traveling straight, and avoid making several corrections at once. A calm driving style helps the Buick Enclave remain more stable and gives the driver more time to respond if traction changes unexpectedly.
Blizzard Conditions
Being stuck in snow can become a serious situation very quickly, especially during a storm, in remote areas, or when temperatures are extremely low. Stay with the vehicle unless help is nearby and clearly reachable. A vehicle is easier for rescuers to see than a person walking through blowing snow, and it provides shelter from wind and cold.
If possible, use the Roadside Assistance Program (U.S. and Canada) or Roadside Assistance Program (Mexico). To get help and keep everyone in the vehicle safe:
► Turn on the hazard warning flashers so the vehicle is easier to notice in poor visibility. ► Tie a red cloth to an outside mirror as a visible distress signal for other drivers or rescuers.WARNING
Snow can trap engine exhaust under the vehicle. This may cause exhaust gases
to get inside. Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide (CO) which cannot be seen
or smelled. It can cause unconsciousness and even death.
If the vehicle is stuck in the snow:
► Clear away snow from around the base of your vehicle, especially any that is blocking the exhaust pipe. ► Check again from time to time to be sure snow does not collect there. ► Open a window about 5 cm (2 in) on the side of the vehicle that is away from the wind to bring in fresh air.► Fully open the air outlets on or under the instrument panel.
► Adjust the climate control system to a setting that circulates the air inside the vehicle and set the fan speed to the highest setting.
See “Climate Control System” in the Index.
For more information about carbon monoxide, see Engine Exhaust .
Run the engine for short periods only as needed to keep warm, but be careful. Make sure the exhaust pipe remains clear before running the engine. Snow can drift and build up again, even after it has already been removed.
To save fuel, run the engine only for short periods as needed to warm the vehicle. Then shut the engine off and close the window most of the way to help retain heat. Repeat this process until help arrives, but only when the cold becomes truly uncomfortable. Moving your arms, legs, hands, and feet can also help maintain body warmth while waiting.
If it takes some time for help to arrive, now and then when you run the engine, push the accelerator pedal slightly so the engine runs faster than idle speed. This can help keep the battery charged enough to restart the vehicle and to signal for help with the headlamps.
Do this as little as possible to save fuel. In severe winter weather, fuel, battery charge, warmth, and fresh air must all be managed carefully. Keeping the exhaust area clear and using the engine only when necessary are important safety steps.
