Kia Sportage 2008 User Manual download pdf (Page 228)

Driving tips

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Getting familiar with off-road driv-

ing

It’s necessary for you to practice in

an area that’s safe and close to

home before you begin serious off-

road driving. Off-road driving

requires new and different driving

skills.

You need to tune your senses to dif-

ferent kinds of signals. For example,

constantly sweep the terrain with

your eyes looking for unexpected

obstacles. Listen for unusual tire,

gear, or engine sounds. Feel and

respond to the vibrations of the vehi-

cle with your hands, feet, and body

while still carefully controlling your

vehicle. You’ll also need to adjust

your expectations and greatly lower

the number of miles you expect to

cover in an hour or a day.

Controlling your vehicle is the key to

successful off-road driving. One of

the best ways to control your vehicle

is to control your speed. Here are

some things to keep in mind when

traveling at higher speeds:

• You approach things faster and you

have less time to scan the terrain

for obstacles.

• You have less time to react.

• You have much more vehicle

bounce when you drive over obsta-

cles, giving you less vehicle con-

trol.

• You’ll need more distance for brak-

ing, especially since you’re on an

unpaved surface. Such terrain will

always be more “slippery” than a

paved road.

WARNING - Off road driv-

ing

When you’re driving off-road,

bouncing and quick changes in

direction can easily throw you

out of position in your seat. This

could cause you to lose control

of the vehicle and crash.

Whether you are driving on or

off the road, you and your pas-

sengers should always wear

safety belts.

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