| | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INSTRUMENT PANEL tion such as: Song Title, Album Title, Artist, • There may have been a problem while iPod, laptop computer, MP3 player, CD and Bit rate may appear. burning the CD. changer, or cassette tape player, etc. to the • The label may be caught in the CD auxiliary input jack for use as another When information is not available, “No Info” player. source for audio listening. will appear on the display. If the CD is not playing correctly, for any The auxiliary input jack will also accept cell Press and hold this button to change the other reason, try a known good CD. phone connectors. Plug the cell phone display mode. connector into the auxiliary input jack to If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error Scroll: hear the other side of a cell phone’s con- cannot be corrected, contact your SUZUKI Press and hold the sound button [in MP3/ versation through the vehicle sound sys- dealer. If the radio displays an error mes- WMA mode] tem. sage, write it down and provide it to your The song title or other information of a SUZUKI dealer when reporting the prob- Drivers are encouraged to set up their por- song will scroll on/off. The default mode is lem. table audio player while the vehicle is scroll on. parked. See Defensive Driving for more Scroll mode can be changed only when AUX Mode information on driver distraction. you press and hold the sound button. Press this button to listen to the audio con- To use a portable audio player, connect a tents from other devices; Walkman, Porta- CD Messages 3.5 mm (1/8 inch) cable to the radio’s front ble CD Player, Portable MP3 Player, i-pod, auxiliary input jack. When a device is con- CHECK CD: XM receiver, etc. nected, press the radio CD/AUX button as If this message appears on the display 1) Connect the output port of the device to needed to begin playing audio from the and/or the CD comes out, it could be for the aux jack of the head unit with an device over the car speakers. one of the following reasons: aux connector. CD/AUX (CD/Auxiliary) button (9): • It is very hot. When the temperature 2) Turn the device on. Press this button once to play a CD while a returns to normal, the CD will play. 3) Press this button. portable audio device is playing. Press this • You are driving on a very rough road. If you want to control the volume level, use button a second time and the system will When the road becomes smoother, the the volume buttons of the head unit or the begin playing audio from the connected CD will play. device. portable audio player. Once in this mode, • The CD is dirty, scratched, wet, or “Auxinput” will appear on the display. If the upside down. Using the Auxiliary Input Jack auxiliary jack does not detect the presence • The air is very humid. If so, wait about an Your radio system has an auxiliary input of an output jack, the aux mode will be pre- hour and try again. jack located on the lower right side of the vented from coming up. • The format of the CD may not be com- faceplate. This is not an audio output; do patible. See “MP3/WMA Format” earlier Power/Volume knob (1): not plug a headphone set into the front in this section. Turn this knob clockwise or counterclock- auxiliary input jack. You can however, con- wise to increase or decrease the volume of nect an external audio device such as an 3-36 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INSTRUMENT PANEL the portable player. You may need to make STEERING WHEEL REMOTE OPER- CDP MODE additional volume adjustments from the ATION (if equipped in the vehicle) Press the Seek Button for a short time to portable device if the volume does not go go to the next track. Power Button loud or soft enough. Press this button to turn the system on and off. Press this button for a short time to Track01 Track02 MUTE the sound. To cancel MUTE, press this button again. Volume Up Button Press this button to increase the volume level. 84Z026 Volume Down Button Press and hold the Seek Button to fast Press this button to decrease the volume play. level. Mode Button Seek Button Press the Mode Button to change the RADIO MODE mode. (“CDP” is displayed when a CD is in Press the Seek Button for a short time to the CDP deck) search for stored radio channels. FM1 FM2 FM-A CH1 CH2 CH3 (CDP) AM-A AM-2 AM-1 CH6 CH5 CH4 84Z027 84Z025 Press and hold the Seek Button to search for the next receivable higher-frequency. 3-37 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INSTRUMENT PANEL Radio with Six-Disc CD (Double Display, MP3/WMA) (AGH-6400) PLAYING THE RADIO Power/Volume knob (1): 2 3 10 Press this knob to turn the system on and off. Turn the Power/Volume knob clockwise or counterclockwise to increase or decrease 9 11 the volume. Press this button for a short time to MUTE the radio. Press the button again to cancel MUTE. 5 4 Finding a Station AM button (2): 6 12 Press this button to switch to an AM sta- tion. The display will show the selection. 8 1 FM button (3): Press this button to switch to an FM sta- tion. The display will show the selection. TUNE button (4): Press this button to select radio stations. 7 (Instruction tuning) Press the up arrows to increase the fre- 85Z019 quency. 1. Power/Volume knob •3 RDM: Random button Press the down arrows to decrease the fre- 2. AM button •4 INT: Introduction button quency. 3. FM button •5 DSC-: Previous CDC button The frequency of the AM band changes 4. TUNE button •6 DSC+: Next CDC button 10 kHz each time and the frequency of the 5. SEEK button 8. SOUND (SCROLL) button FM band changes 200 kHz each time. 6. SCAN/AST button 9. LOAD button SEEK button (5): 7. Preset station buttons 10. CDC button Press this button to search for and select •1 DIR: Directory button 11. EJECT button receivable radio stations. (Seek tuning) •2 RPT: Repeat button 12. INFO/DISP button To search for the next receivable higher station, press the up arrows. 3-38 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INSTRUMENT PANEL To search for the previous receivable lower Preset station buttons (7): SOUND button (8): station, press the down arrows. Setting Preset Stations Setting the Tone (Bass/Mid/Treble) SCAN/AST button (6): Up to 36 stations (six FM1, six FM2, six Press this button until “BAS” appears on Press this button to scan radio stations. FM-A and six AM1, six AM2, six AM-A), the display. Turn the volume knob to (Scan tuning) can be programmed on the six numbered increase or to decrease the bass. The dis- preset buttons, by performing the following play will show the bass level. When fin- Scan steps: ished making the selection, press this The radio will go to a station, play for a few button again to select the bass level. seconds, and then go on to the next sta- 1) Turn the radio on. tion. Press this button again to stop scan- 2) Press the AM or FM button to select Press this button until “MID” appears on ning. FM1, FM2, FM-A, AM1, AM2 or AM-A. the display. Turn the volume knob to 3) Tune in the desired station. increase or to decrease the mid. The dis- The radio will only scan stations with a 4) Press and hold one of the six numbered play will show the mid level. When finished strong signal that are in the selected band. preset buttons. making the selection, press this button The preset button number (Display: again to select the mid level. Automatic Store CH#1 ~ CH#6) will flash on the display Press and hold this button to use Auto Press this button until “TRE” appears on when the station has been set. When- Store. the display. Turn the volume knob to ever that numbered preset button is increase or to decrease the treble. The dis- FM1’s 6 preset stations with the strongest pressed, the memorized station will play will show the treble level. When fin- signal in the region can be automatically return. ished making the selection, press this stored. The display will show “AUTO 5) Repeat the previous four steps for each button again to select the treble level. If a SCANNING”, and “SCANNING” will flash preset button. station is weak or noisy, decrease the tre- on display. ble. ORDER OF SOUND FUNCTIONS Stored stations will flash for a short time on Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade) display in sequence. Once the stations are To adjust the balance between the right stored, the radio will switch to FM-A and BASS MID TRE and the left speakers, press this button the first preset station will begin to play. VOL until “BAL” appears on the display. Turn the FM-A will appear on the display when lis- FAD volume knob to change the balance. The tening to the automatically stored stations. display will show the balance level. When Press the AM or FM button to stop auto- EQ OFF BAL finished making the selection, press this matic store. 84Z023 button again to select the balance level. To adjust the fade between the front and rear speakers, press this button until “FAD” appears on the display. Turn the volume 3-39 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INSTRUMENT PANEL knob to change the fade between the front PLAYING A CD If there is no apparent damage, try a and the rear speakers. The display will Insert a CD partway into the slot, label side known good CD. show the fade level. When finished making up. The player will pull it in and the CD Do not add any label to a CD, it could get the selection, press this button again to should begin playing. You can insert a CD caught in the CD player. If a CD is select the fade level. with the ignition off. recorded on a personal computer and a Setting the EQ When the CD is inserted, “CDP” will description label is needed, try labeling the Press this button until “EQ OFF” appears appear on the display. As the CD is loading top of the recorded CD with a marking pen on the display to select customized equal- “LOADING” will appear on the display. As instead. ization settings designed for classic, each new track starts to play, the track and If an error appears on the display, see “CD dance, rock, jazz, pop, voice and techno. track number will appear on the display. Messages” later in this section. Turn the volume knob until the desired If the ignition or radio is turned off with a equalization setting appears on the display. RPT (Repeat) button (7): CD in the player, it will stay in the player. When finished making the selection, press Press this button to repeat the current When a CD is in the player and the ignition the SOUND button again to select the track. RPT will appear on the display. is turned on, the radio must be turned on equalization setting. Press this button again to turn off repeat before the CD will start playback. When play. To cancel an equalization setting, press the ignition and radio are turned on, the the SOUND button until “EQ OFF” appears CD will start playing where it stopped, if it RDM (Random) button (7): on the display, turn the volume knob until was the last selected audio source. Press this button to hear the tracks in ran- “OFF” appears on the display, then press dom, rather than sequential, order. “RDM” The CD player can play the smaller 3 inch the SOUND button again to select the will appear on the display. Press this button (8 cm) single CDs with an adapter ring. equalization setting. again to turn off random play. Full-size CDs and the smaller CDs are loaded in the same manner. INT (Scan) button (7): EQ OFF CLASSIC DANCE Press this button to listen to the first few If playing a CD-R, the sound quality may seconds of each track on each loaded CD. TECHNO be reduced due to CD-R quality, the ROCK “INTRO” will appear on the display. To stop method of recording, the quality of the scanning, press this button again. The cur- music that has been recorded, and the way VOICE POP JAZZ rent track will begin to play. the CD-R has been handled. There may be 84Z024 an increase in skipping, difficulty in finding TUNE (Previous/Next Track) button (4): tracks, and/or difficulty in loading and Press the down arrows to go to the start of ejecting. If these problems occur, check the current track or press the up arrows to the bottom surface of the CD. If the surface go to the next track. The track number will of the CD is damaged, such as cracked, appear on the display. The player will con- broken, or scratched, the CD will not play tinue moving backward or forward through properly. 3-40 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INSTRUMENT PANEL the CD with each press of the up or down not eject when the ignition or the radio is the complexity and confusion in trying to arrows. turned off. locate a particular folder during playback. If a CD contains more than the maximum of AM button (2): Using an MP3/WMA CD 50 folders, 5 sessions, and 999 files the Press this button to listen to the radio when player will let you access and navigate up a CD is playing. The inactive CD will MP3/WMA Format to the maximum, but all items over the remain safely inside the radio for future lis- If you burn your own MP3/WMA disc on a maximum will be ignored. tening. personal computer: Root Directory FM button (3): • Make sure the MP3/WMA files are The root directory will be treated as a Press this button to listen to the radio when recorded on a CD-R disc. folder. If the root directory has compressed a CD is playing. The inactive CD will • Make sure to finalize the disc when burn- audio files, the directory will be displayed remain safely inside the radio for future lis- ing an MP3/WMA disc, using multiple as “ROOT”. All files contained directly tening. sessions. It is usually better to burn the under the root directory will be accessed disc all at once. CD/AUX button (9): prior to any other directory. • Files can be recorded with a variety of Press this button to play a CD when listen- fixed or variable bit rates. Song title, art- Empty Directory or Folder ing to the radio. “CDP” will appear on the ist name, and album will be available for If a root directory or a folder exists some- display when the CD player has been display by the radio when recorded using where in the file structure that contains selected. The CD symbol will appear on ID3 tags version 1 and 2. only folders/subfolders and no compressed the display when a CD is loaded. • Do not mix standard audio and MP3/ files directly beneath them, the player will Press this button while a CD is playing to WMA files on one disc. advance to the next folder in the file struc- pause the CD. “PAUSE” will flash on the • Make sure each MP3/WMA file has a ture that contains compressed audio files display. Press this button again to resume “.mp3” or “.wma” extension, other file and the empty folder will not be displayed playing the CD. extensions may not work. or numbered. Press this button to play a CD when listen- The player will be able to read and play a No Folder ing to the audio contents from other device maximum of 50 folders, 5 sessions, and When the CD contains only compressed (AUX mode). “CDP” will appear on the dis- 999 files. Long file names and folder files, the files will be located under the root play when the CD player has been names may use more disc memory space folder. The next and previous folder func- selected. The CD symbol will appear on than necessary. To conserve space on the tions will have no function on a CD that the display when a CD is loaded. disc, minimize the length of the file, and was recorded without folders or playlists. folder names. You can also play an MP3/ When displaying the name of the folder the EJECT button (10): WMA CD that was recorded using no file radio will display “ROOT”. Press this button to eject a CD. The only folders. The system can support up to 8 way a CD can be ejected from the player is When the CD contains only compressed folders in depth, but, keep the depth of the by pressing the eject button. The CD will audio files, but no folders, all files will be folders to a minimum in order to keep down located under the root folder. When the 3-41 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INSTRUMENT PANEL radio displays the name of the folder the If the ignition or radio is turned off with a If an error appears on the display, see “CD radio will display “ROOT”. CD in the player, it will stay in the player. Messages” later in this section. When a CD is in the player and the ignition Order of Play All of the CD functions work the same is turned on, the radio must be turned on Tracks will be played in the following order: while playing an MP3/WMA, except for before the CD will start playback. When those listed here. See “Playing a CD” ear- Play will begin from the first track under the the ignition and radio are turned on, the lier for more information. root directory. When all tracks from the root CD will start playing where it stopped, if it directory have been played, play will con- was the last selected audio source. DIR (Directory) button (11): tinue from files according to their numerical Press this button to repeat the tracks in the The CD player can play the smaller 3 inch listing. After playing the last track from the current directory. “DIR” will appear on the (8 cm) single CDs with an adapter ring. last folder, the player will begin playing display. Full-size CDs and the smaller CDs are again at the first track of the first folder or Press this button again to repeat the tracks loaded in the same manner. root directory. in all of the directories. “ALL” will appear on If playing a CD-R, the sound quality may the display. File System and Naming be reduced due to CD-R quality, the Press this button again to turn off repeat The song name in the ID3 tag will be dis- method of recording, the quality of the play. played. If the song name is not present in music that has been recorded, and the way the ID3 tag, then the radio will display the SEEK (Previous/Next Folder) button (5) the CD-R has been handled. There may be file name without the extension (such as (in MP3/WMA mode): an increase in skipping, difficulty in finding MP3/WMA) instead. Press the up or down arrows to change the tracks, and/or difficulty in loading and folder. If the CD-R doesn’t have any folder, Track names longer than 32 characters or ejecting. If these problems occur, check “ROOT” will flash on display for a short 4 pages will be shortened. The display will the bottom surface of the CD. If the surface time. not show parts of words on the last page of of the CD is damaged, such as cracked, text and the extension of the filename will broken, or scratched, the CD will not play TUNE (Previous/Next Folder) button (4): not be displayed. properly. Press the up or down arrows to go to the first track in the previous or to go to the Playing an MP3/WMA If there is no apparent damage, try a next folder. The player will continue moving With the ignition on, insert a CD partway known good CD. backward or forward through the CD with into the slot, label side up. The player will Do not add any label to a CD, it could get each press of the up or down arrows. pull it in, then “LOADING”, and then “MP3” caught in the CD player. If a CD is or “WMA” will appear on the display. The INFO/DISP (Information/Display) button recorded on a personal computer and a CD should begin playing. You can’t insert a (12): description label is needed, try labeling the CD with the acc off. As each new track Press this button to display additional text top of the recorded CD with a marking pen starts to play, the track number, and the information related to the current MP3/ instead. song name will appear on the display. WMA song. A choice of additional informa- 3-42 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INSTRUMENT PANEL tion such as: Song Title, Album Title, Artist, • There may have been a problem while iPod, laptop computer, MP3 player, CD and Bit rate may appear. burning the CD. changer, or cassette tape player, etc. to the • The label may be caught in the CD auxiliary input jack for use as another When information is not available, “No Info” player. source for audio listening. will appear on the display. If the CD is not playing correctly, for any The auxiliary input jack will also accept cell Press and hold this button to change the other reason, try a known good CD. phone connectors. Plug the cell phone display mode. connector into the auxiliary input jack to If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error Scroll: hear the other side of a cell phone’s con- cannot be corrected, contact your SUZUKI Press and hold the sound button [in MP3/ versation through the vehicle sound sys- dealer. If the radio displays an error mes- WMA mode] tem. sage, write it down and provide it to your The song title or other information of a SUZUKI dealer when reporting the prob- Drivers are encouraged to set up their por- song will scroll on/off. The default mode is lem. table audio player while the vehicle is scroll on. parked. See Defensive Driving for more Scroll mode can be changed only when AUX Mode information on driver distraction. you press and hold the sound button. Press this button to listen to the audio con- To use a portable audio player, connect a tents from other devices; Walkman, Porta- CD Messages 3.5 mm (1/8 inch) cable to the radio’s front ble CD Player, Portable MP3 Player, i-pod, auxiliary input jack. When a device is con- CHECK CD: XM receiver, etc. nected, press the radio CD/AUX button as If this message appears on the display 1) Connect the output port of the device to needed to begin playing audio from the and/or the CD comes out, it could be for the aux jack of the head unit with an device over the car speakers. one of the following reasons: aux connector. CD/AUX (CD/Auxiliary) button (9): • It is very hot. When the temperature 2) Turn the device on. Press this button once to play a CD while a returns to normal, the CD will play. 3) Press this button. portable audio device is playing. Press this • You are driving on a very rough road. If you want to control the volume level, use button a second time and the system will When the road becomes smoother, the the volume buttons of the head unit or the begin playing audio from the connected CD will play. device. portable audio player. Once in this mode, • The CD is dirty, scratched, wet, or “Auxinput” will appear on the display. If the upside down. Using the Auxiliary Input Jack auxiliary jack does not detect the presence • The air is very humid. If so, wait about an Your radio system has an auxiliary input of an output jack, the aux mode will be pre- hour and try again. jack located on the lower right side of the vented from coming up. • The format of the CD may not be com- faceplate. This is not an audio output; do patible. See “MP3/WMA Format” earlier Power/Volume knob (1): not plug a headphone set into the front in this section. Turn this knob clockwise or counterclock- auxiliary input jack. You can however, con- wise to increase or decrease the volume of nect an external audio device such as an 3-43 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INSTRUMENT PANEL the portable player. You may need to make STEERING WHEEL REMOTE OPER- CDP MODE additional volume adjustments from the ATION (if equipped in the vehicle) Press the Seek Button for a short time to portable device if the volume does not go go to the next track. Power Button loud or soft enough. Press this button to turn the system on and off. Press this button for a short time to Track01 Track02 MUTE the sound. To cancel MUTE, press this button again. Volume Up Button Press this button to increase the volume level. 84Z026 Volume Down Button Press and hold the Seek Button for fast Press this button to decrease the volume play. level. Mode Button Seek Button Press the Mode Button to change the RADIO MODE mode. (“CDP” is displayed when a CD is in Press the Seek Button for a short time to the CDP deck) search for stored radio channels. FM1 FM2 FM-A CH1 CH2 CH3 (CDP) AM-A AM-2 AM-1 CH6 CH5 CH4 84Z027 84Z025 Press and hold the Seek Button to search for the next receivable higher-frequency. 3-44 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INSTRUMENT PANEL CD CHANGER OPERATION (Optional) The CD changer is installed in the trunk. 1 Up to 6 discs can be stored in the maga- zine of the CD changer. A selection of tracks from the 6 discs stored in the disc magazine can be made and automatically played in the order of your preference. NOTE: • The CD changer is controlled by the Main Unit. • The CD changer is an Optional Item. 2 86Z026 1. Magazine slot 2. Magazine eject button 3-45 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INSTRUMENT PANEL How to Change Discs 86Z014 86Z015 86Z013 2) Press the eject button on the CD 3) Pull a tray out of the magazine by To remove: changer and remove the magazine. pressing the tray button. 1) Open the sliding door of the CD 4) Remove the disc from the tray and rein- changer to the right until it is completely sert the tray into the magazine. latched. 3-46 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INSTRUMENT PANEL The CD changer is operated by the main button, the disc will skip to the next unit. track. Labeled surface upward 2) To play the previous track, rotate this 1) Press the power button on the main unit knob counterclockwise for less than 1 to turn the audio system on. second or press the track down button 2) If a disc is already inserted inside the once. Each time you rotate the knob or CD changer, press the “CD” button. press the button, the disc will skip to the Playback starts at the beginning of the previous track. track that you were previously listening to. Cue & Review: 3) If a disc is not inserted yet, load a disc This function allows desired point-search in the magazine. (Refer to “How to within a track at a faster than normal play- change discs”.) back speed. Then, press the “CD” button to play. Playback starts from the No. 1 disc. 1) To search for the desired point of a 86Z016 track, rotate this knob and hold it or To load: CD Changer Play: press and hold the track up/down but- 1) Put the disc on a tray with its label side To play the CD Changer while operating ton. The audio level is reduced and the upward. the radio, press the “CD” button if a disc is disc will play at a faster than normal 2) Insert the tray into the magazine. already inserted in the CD changer. playback speed. When the disc reaches 3) Push the magazine into the CD the desired point, release the knob/but- The mode is transferred to the CD changer changer until it is locked and a click ton and normal play will resume. sound is heard. and the CD is played back from the track 2) To cue (forward) the track, rotate this that you were previously listening to. 4) After loading the magazine, close the knob clockwise or press the track up sliding door completely to the left. If a disc is not in the CD changer, the mode button. To review (backward) the track, is not changed to the CD changer when rotate this knob counterclockwise or you press this button. press the track down button. Track Up & Down: Repeat Play: The track up & down knob/button allows To repeatedly listen to the current track, you to make quick selections from your press the “2/RPT” button. playing disc. “RPT” is displayed in VFD and the current track will be played back repeatedly until 1) To play the next track, rotate this knob this function is canceled. clockwise for less than 1 second or To cancel this function, press this button press the track up button once. Each again. time you rotate the knob or press the 3-47 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INSTRUMENT PANEL Track Introduction: To quickly and conveniently scan the track, use the “3 or 4/INT” button. “INTRO” will be displayed in VFD and the audio system will play the first 10 seconds of each track. When the player reaches the desired track, press this button again and normal play will resume. Random Play: To play a CD disc in random order, press the “4 or 5/RDM” button. “RDM” will be displayed in VFD and the audio system will play the CD in random order. To cancel this function, press this button again. Disc Up / Down Button To select another disc in ascending order, press the “3 or 6/UP” button. The number of the selected disc will appear on the VFD. To select another disc in descending order, press the “5 or 6/DN” button. The number of the selected disc will appear on the VFD. 3-48 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle 4-1 Towing 4-16 4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE Your Driving, the Road, and to help do things like this, or pull off the The obvious way to eliminate the leading road in a safe place to do them yourself. highway safety problem is for people never Your Vehicle These simple defensive driving tech- to drink alcohol and then drive. But what if niques could save your life. people do? How much is “too much” if Defensive Driving someone plans to drive? It’s a lot less than The best advice anyone can give about Drunken Driving many might think. Although it depends on driving is: Drive defensively. Death and injury associated with drinking each person and situation, here is some Please start by using a very important and driving is a national tragedy. It’s the general information on the problem. safety device in your vehicle: Your safety number one contributor to the highway The Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of belt. Buckle up. See “Safety Belts: They death toll, claiming thousands of victims someone who is drinking depends upon Are for Everyone” in section 1. every year. four things: Defensive driving really means “be ready Alcohol affects four things that everyone • The amount of alcohol consumed for anything.” On city streets, rural roads or needs to drive a vehicle: • The drinker’s body weight freeways, it means “always expect the • Judgment • The amount of food that is consumed unexpected.” • Muscular Coordination before and during drinking Assume that pedestrians or other drivers • Vision • The length of time it has taken the are going to be careless and make mis- • Attentiveness. drinker to consume the alcohol. takes. Anticipate what they might do. Be Police records show that almost half of all According to the American Medical Associ- ready for their mistakes. motor vehicle-related deaths involve alco- ation, a 180 lb (82 kg) person who drinks Rear-end collisions are about the most hol. In most cases, these deaths are the three 12 ounce (355 ml) bottles of beer in preventable of accidents. Yet they are com- result of someone who was drinking and an hour will end up with a BAC of about mon. Allow enough following distance. It’s driving. In recent years, more than 16,000 0.06 percent. The person would reach the the best defensive driving maneuver, in annual motor vehicle-related deaths have same BAC by drinking three 4 ounce (120 both city and rural driving. You never know been associated with the use of alcohol, ml) glasses of wine or three mixed drinks if when the vehicle in front of you is going to with more than 300,000 people injured. each had 1-1/2 ounces (45 ml) of liquors brake or turn suddenly. like whiskey, gin or vodka. Many adults - by some estimates, nearly Defensive driving requires that a driver half the adult population - choose never to concentrate on the driving task. Anything drink alcohol, so they never drive after that distracts from the driving task - such drinking. For persons under 21, it is as concentrating on a cellular telephone against the law in every U.S. state to drink call, reading, or reaching for something on alcohol. There are good medical, psycho- the floor - makes proper defensive driving logical and developmental reasons for more difficult and can even cause a colli- these laws. sion, with resulting injury. Ask a passenger 4-1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE ple, it is 0.05 percent in both France and There’s something else about drinking and Germany. The BAC limit for all commercial driving that many people don’t know. Medi- drivers in the United States is 0.04 percent. cal research shows that alcohol in a per- son’s system can make crash injuries The BAC will be over 0.10 percent after worse, especially injuries to the brain, spi- three to six drinks (in one hour). Of course, nal cord or heart. This means that when as we’ve seen, it depends on how much anyone who has been drinking - driver or alcohol is in the drinks, and how quickly the passenger - is in a crash, that person’s person drinks them. chance of being killed or permanently dis- But the ability to drive is affected well abled is higher than if the person had not below a BAC of 0.10 percent. Research been drinking. shows that the driving skills of many peo- ple are impaired at a BAC approaching WARNING 0.05 percent, and that the effects are Drinking and then driving is very dan- worse at night. All drivers are impaired at gerous. Your reflexes, perceptions, It’s the amount of alcohol that counts. For BAC levels above 0.05 percent. Statistics attentiveness and judgment can be example, if the same person drank three show that the chance of being in a collision affected by even a small amount of double martinis (3 ounces or 90 ml of increases sharply for drivers who have a alcohol. You can have a serious - or liquor each) within an hour, the person’s BAC of 0.05 percent or above. A driver with even fatal - collision if you drive after BAC would be close to 0.12 percent. A per- a BAC level of 0.06 percent has doubled drinking. Please don’t drink and drive son who consumes food just before or dur- his or her chance of having a collision. At a or ride with a driver who has been ing drinking will have a somewhat lower BAC level of 0.10 percent, the chance of drinking. Ride home in a cab; or if BAC level. this driver having a collision is 12 times you’re with a group, designate a greater; at a level of 0.15 percent, the There is a gender difference, too. Women driver who will not drink. chance is 25 times greater! generally have a lower relative percentage of body water than men. Since alcohol is The body takes about an hour to rid itself Control of a Vehicle carried in body water, this means that a of the alcohol in one drink. No amount of You have three systems that make your woman generally will reach a higher BAC coffee or number of cold showers will vehicle go where you want it to go. They level than a man of her same body weight speed that up. “I’ll be careful” isn’t the right are the brakes, the steering and the accel- will when each has the same number of answer. What if there’s an emergency, a erator. All three systems have to do their drinks. need to take sudden action, as when a work at the places where the tires meet the child darts into the street? A person with road. The law in an increasing number of U.S. even a moderate BAC might not be able to states, and throughout Canada, sets the react quickly enough to avoid the collision. legal limit at 0.08 percent. In some other countries, the limit is even lower. For exam- 4-2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE 3/4 of a second, a vehicle moving at 60 ABS is an advanced electronic braking mph (100 km/h) travels 66 feet (20 m). system that will help prevent a braking That could be a lot of distance in an emer- skid. gency, so keeping enough space between When you start your engine and begin to your vehicle and others is important. drive away, your anti-lock brake system will And, of course, actual stopping distances check itself. You may hear a momentary vary greatly with the surface of the road motor or clicking noise while this test is (whether it’s pavement or gravel) the condi- going on, and you may even notice that tion of the road (wet, dry, icy) tire tread the your brake pedal moves a little. This is nor- condition of your brakes the weight of the mal. vehicle and the amount of brake force applied. Avoid needless heavy braking. Some peo- ple drive in spurts - heavy acceleration fol- Sometimes, as when you’re driving on lowed by heavy braking - rather than snow or ice, it’s easy to ask more of those keeping pace with traffic. This is a mistake. control systems than the tires and road Your brakes may not have time to cool can provide. That means you can lose con- between hard stops. Your brakes will wear trol of your vehicle. out much faster if you do a lot of heavy If there’s a problem with the anti-lock brake system, this warning light will stay on. See braking. If you keep pace with the traffic Braking and allow realistic following distances, you “Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light” in section 3. Braking action involves perception time will eliminate a lot of unnecessary braking. and reaction time. That means better braking and longer brake life. First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal. That’s perception time. Then If your engine ever stops while you’re driv- you have to bring up your foot and do it. ing, brake normally but don’t pump your That’s reaction time. brakes. If you do, the pedal may get harder to push down. If your engine stops, you will Average reaction time is about 3/4 of a still have some power brake assist. But you second. But that’s only an average. It might will use it when you brake. Once the power be less with one driver and as long as two assist is used up, it may take longer to stop or three seconds or more with another. and the brake pedal will be harder to push. Age, physical condition, alertness, coordi- Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) nation and eyesight all play a part. So do (if equipped) alcohol, drugs and frustration. But even in 4-3 | |
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