This comprehensive guide from AAA tells you everything you need to know about a wide variety of driving situations and how to handle them. Illustrations and tips make the information easy to understand. Book jacket.

Jim MacPherson writes more than 100 automotive columns annually for The Hartford Courant and broadcasts a weekly radio program on car buying and maintenance. Jim also managed car buying, driver and traffic safety programs for AAA Hartford/Cincinnati, and has created and conducted car buying seminars for thousands of consumers. He is a licensed master driving instructor

Introduction

13

(1)

You Don't Need This Book, Right?

14

(3)

Getting Set Behind the Wheel

17

(18)

Adjust Your Seat

18

(5)

Fasten Your Seat Belt

23

(1)

Buckle up Children

24

(1)

Rear-Facing Child Safety Seat

25

(1)

Forward-Facing Child Safety Seat

26

(1)

Booster Seat

26

(1)

Lap and Shoulder Belt

26

(1)

Adjust the Mirrors

27

(1)

Reduce Blind Spots

28

(2)

Fix Problems in an III-Fitting Vehicle

30

(1)

Have the Seat Remounted

31

(1)

Overcome Mirror Problems

31

(1)

Extend the Pedals

32

(1)

Use a Seat Cushion

33

(1)

Adjust the Back of the Seat

33

(1)

Install More Mirrors

33

(1)

Extend the Seat Belt

34

(1)

Managing Risk While Driving

35

(26)

Learn to Manage Your Risk While Driving

36

(1)

Search Far Ahead

37

(1)

Know What's in Front of You

37

(1)

Look to the Sides in Front of You

37

(1)

Search to the Rear

38

(1)

Leave Space Ahead

38

(2)

Leave Space to One Side

40

(1)

Be Alert at Intersections

41

(2)

Compensate for Restricted Vision

43

(2)

Adapt Quickly if Road Narrows

45

(1)

Keep Escape Routes Open

46

(2)

Use the Mirrors

48

(1)

Know Your Limitations at Night

49

(3)

Avoid Distractions

52

(4)

Be Prepared for Anything

56

(1)

Use Caution in Work Zones

56

(1)

Interpret the Other Driver's Behavior

57

(4)

Highway Driving

61

(16)

Interstate Highways Are Safe

63

(2)

Give Room to Big Rigs

65

(5)

Focus on What's Ahead of You

70

(2)

Merge Cautiously

72

(3)

Use Care When Changing Lanes

75

(1)

Be Fit to Drive

76

(1)

Driving Sport-Utility Vechicles and Pickups

77

(14)

Bigger Isn't Always Better

79

(2)

Rollover Rates Are Higher

81

(3)

Drive Trucks Within Safe Limits

84

(1)

Carry Cargo Carefully

85

(3)

Know What Your Truck Can Tow Safely

88

(1)

Don't Put Passengers in Cargo Bed

89

(2)

Avoiding and Handling Crashes

91

(20)

Surviving a Close Call

93

(1)

Prepare for Emergencies

93

(1)

Keep the Air Bag in Mind When Steering

94

(3)

How Antilock Brakes Work

97

(1)

Capitalize on Stability Enhancement Systems

98

(4)

Dealing with Common Worries

102

(1)

Maintain Traction

102

(1)

Cope with a Skid

102

(1)

Stop in an Emergency

103

(2)

When You Can't Avoid a Crash

105

(2)

Keep Supplies in the Car

107

(4)

Coping with Road Rage

111

(14)

Tragic Consequences

112

(3)

Keep Your Cool

115

(2)

Prevention Is the Best Cure

117

(1)

Be Polite

117

(1)

Leave Early

117

(1)

Don't Tailgate

117

(1)

Let Tailgaters Pass

117

(1)

Don't Be a Left-Lane Bandit

118

(1)

Signal Your Intentions

118

(1)

Park with Care

119

(1)

Don't Gesture to Show Displeasure

119

(1)

Use Your Horn and Lights Sparingly

120

(1)

Dim High Beams

120

(1)

Keep Lane Free for Right Turns on Red

120

(1)

Let Drivers Merge

121

(1)

Leave the Highway Carefully

121

(1)

Don't Impede Traffic

121

(1)

Avoid Eye Contact

121

(1)

Exercise Your First-Amendment Rights Carefully

121

(1)

Maintain Car Alarms

122

(1)

Don't Let Car Accessories Distract You

122

(1)

Stay Out of Other Drivers' Blind Spots

122

(1)

Allow Passing Drivers to Pass

122

(1)

Don't Pass and Then Slow Down

122

(3)

Teenage Drivers

125

(20)

Don't Let Teens Start Too Soon

127

(1)

Practice, Practice, Practice

128

(5)

Prepare for Challenges

133

(1)

Awkward Operation

133

(1)

Confusion About Controls

133

(1)

Lack of Practical Application

133

(1)

Lagging Mental Stamina

133

(1)

Take It One Step at a Time

134

(3)

Pick the Right Vechicle

137

(3)

Poor Choices

140

(1)

Draw Up Contracts

141

(4)

Older Drivers

145

(12)

Watch for Early Signs

147

(1)

Medical Problems Take a Toll

147

(1)

Your Passengers Are Jittery

148

(1)

Dents and Dings Mar Your Car

149

(1)

Traffic Is so Confusing

149

(1)

You're Lost on Familiar Streets

150

(1)

You Make Mistakes with Controls

150

(1)

Those Speed Limits Are too High

150

(1)

It's Hard to See at Night

151

(1)

Police Pull You Over

152

(1)

Oops! You Crashed

152

(1)

Choose Intersections Wisely

153

(1)

If Necessary, Get Retested

154

(3)

Maintaining a Vechicle

157

(16)

Keep Up with Maintenance

158

(3)

Take an Active Role in Car Care

161

(1)

Check at Each Refueling

161

(1)

Check Some Items Monthly

162

(2)

Perform Other Routine Maintenance

164

(2)

Interpret Gauges and Warning Lights

166

(1)

Keep Eye on Engine Speed

167

(1)

High Temperature Can Damage Engine

167

(1)

Adequate Oil Pressure Can Protect Engine

168

(2)

High Voltage Can Hurt Electrical Systems

170

(1)

Pay Attention to Warning Lights

170

(1)

AAA Inspects Service Facilities

171

(2)

Handling Breakdowns

173

(17)

Know Symptoms of Impending Breakdown

174

(1)

Has Performance Changed?

174

(1)

Is It Making Strange Noises?

175

(1)

What's That Vibration?

175

(1)

Is There a Leak?

175

(1)

Are Fluids Disappearing without a Trace?

176

(1)

Are Instrument Readings Abnormal?

177

(1)

Is Something Unusual Happening?

177

(1)

Vechicle Dies without Warning

177

(1)

Look for Safe Place to Park

178

(1)

Warn Other Motorists

179

(1)

Stay out of Traffic

180

(1)

Assess the Situation

180

(1)

Call for help

181

(1)

Do Your Own Repairs

182

(1)

Check the Gauges

182

(1)

Check under the Hood

182

(1)

Change a Flat

183

(3)

Jump-Start a Dead Battery

186

(2)

Refuel Empty Tank

188

(1)

Add Coolant

189

(1)

Finding Right Repair Facility

189

(1)

Buying a Safer Car

190

(15)

Do Your Research

192

(1)

Check How It Fits

193

(1)

Test Drive It

193

(1)

Look Into Passive Safety Features

194

(1)

Review Crash Test Data

194

(3)

All Seat Belts Are Not Created Equal

197

(2)

Air Bags Get Smarter

199

(1)

Keep Children Safe

200

(1)

LATCH System Boosts Safety

200

(1)

Children Should Ride in Back

201

(1)

Telematics: Safety and Security

202

(3)

Avoiding Crime

205

(12)

Thwart Automobile Theft

206

(1)

Don't Tempt Opportunistic Thieves

207

(1)

Popular Vechicles Are Often Targets

208

(1)

Make Thief's Work Difficult

209

(1)

Protect Yourself from Carjackers

210

(3)

Keep Yourself from Harm

213

(1)

Be Aware of Your Surroundings

213

(1)

Visually Check Your Vechicle

214

(1)

Scan Passenger Compartment

214

(1)

Stay on Guard

214

(1)

Be Wary of Insurance Schemes

215

(2)

Driving Overseas

217

(18)

Plan Ahead for Overseas Driving

218

(1)

Study Each Country's Laws

218

(1)

Consider an International Driving Permit

219

(1)

Carry Adequate Insurance

219

(1)

Know What to Expect in Rental Car

220

(2)

Do as Natives Do

222

(1)

Adapt to Regional Driving Styles

222

(2)

Heed Others' Need for Speed

224

(1)

Narrow Roads

225

(1)

Learn Road Signs

225

(6)

Think Backward

231

(4)

In Conclusion

235

(6)

Motorists Think They Drive Well

236

(2)

Drivers Follow Outmoded Concepts

238

(1)

Drivers Don't Look Far Enough Ahead

238

(1)

Distractions Plague Motorists

239

(1)

People Drive When Tired

239

(1)

Motorists Aren't Prepared for Emergencies

240

(1)

Appendix

241

(4)

Websites

242

(3)

Index

245

What is included with this book?

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.