Proud owner of an SUV purchased from a Dilawri dealer? Congratulations. But remember that SUVs handle differently from other passenger cars and have special safety requirements. A few thoughts on keeping your SUV driving safer:

1.   Proper Tire Inflation is a key issue with SUVs: the             higher center of gravity and heavier loading of these         vehicles can cause excessive roll or swaying if the           tires are underinflated. Make it a habit to check tire           pressure frequently, and to keep pressures within             manufacture’s recommended values. If you need             help with proper pressures, give us a quick call.

2.   Unless your SUV has three row seating, the                       “Wayback” area is intended for cargo, not kids. So           keep the munchkins in their proper place. Children           are generally safer in rear seats, and of course                 younger children should be placed in child or booster       seats, in accordance with local law.

3.   On long trips, it’s natural to recline the front                       passenger seat a bit and catch a snooze. But avoid         reclining the seatback too far—in a collision, fully               reclined passengers don’t receive the optimal                   restraint benefits of their seatbelts.  

4.   For new SUV drivers, that “Kingly” driving position of         an SUV seems invincible: far above the fray. But               avoid overconfidence, and don’t forget that the high           position won’t prevent accidents or greatly reduce             their severity. 

5.   Adjust to your SUV when you take delivery:                       maneuvering a larger vehicle into small areas can be       tricky, especially when you’re accustomed to driving         a smaller car.

6.   SUVs are often heavier than traditional passenger             sedans, so allow extra time to accelerate and to stop.       And wherever possible, minimize the effect of an               SUV’s weight and high center of gravity by braking             and accelerating in a straight line.

7.   The view from an SUV may seem panoramic—until         you find yourself carrying three kids, a dog, and a             balloon sculpture to a birthday party. Then it’s time to       clear your sightlines, by stowing excess gear and             making sure the kids and the pooch aren’t blocking           your view.

8.   All wheel Drive is a wonderful technology that greatly         increases your ability to go in snow. But remember           that your stopping power is no greater than a front             wheel drive or rear-drive car. Don’t blast down that           snowy roadway thanking you can stop as fast as you       can go!

9.   Certain aspects of SUV design also pose safety               considerations for smaller cars: SUV headlight                 placement, for example, can cause glare. So be               conscious of your vehicle’s effect on other drivers.

10. Don’t overload your SUV or truck. Check to see what       the manufacturer weight and weight distributions are.       If you are road tripping and have the SUV or truck fully       loaded, you might stop by a truckstop to get weighed.

PDAs, smartphones, GPS systems, and ipods: these days we’re living in the golden age of techno-gadgets, and their sheer handiness makes it tempting to use them while driving. But that temptation carries safety risks for you, your passengers, and other motorists, so it’s important to set yourself some sensible rules before driving off. Some thoughts on driving safely with all of those gadgets:

Avoid “Navigation Hypnosis”

Navigation systems are so helpful, and provide such a realistic view, that it’s easy to start watching the nav screen rather than the road. Avoid the temptation—remind yourself that the nav screen is a preprogrammed artificial world you can view but never enter.  Your world is what’s outside the windshield!

No Texting and Driving! No, Really

Aside from being illegal in all provinces, studies have shown that trying to text while driving reduces your alertness to a fraction of its normal level. Do yourself a favor and make a firm rule: don’t text on the go. Either hand the phone to a co-pilot or pull over for the brief moment it will take to respond (and don’t forget the hazards).

Pull over to have a conversation

In one study, drivers on the phone were found to be as dangerous behind the wheel as stumbling drunks. A literally sobering thought. Simply put, we recommend hands-free devices, as well as pulling over before having any significant mobile conversation.

Use a built-in or dedicated GPS

Yes, it’s true that many smartphones these days include some form of navigation. But generally these mini-navigators are hard to use, hard to see, and hard to follow. We strongly recommend either a built-in navigation system as part of your next car purchase (generally the least distracting, most user-friendly choice) or a dedicated navigator tool that attaches to the vehicle. 

Don’t Crank it up too far

Like you, we’re fans of “Born to be Wild” at concert volume. But we recommend you reserve that pleasure for Saturday afternoons at home—and keep the volume of your car’s sound system more moderate. That way you’ll be able to hear an urgent horn blast, an ambulance siren,  or the flapping sound of a tire going flat. 

Mount your iPod

Many vehicles today feature an input that allows you to play your iPod or other music player over the music system speakers. But we notice that many drivers take their eyes off the road while fumbling for the controls of their iPod. Suggestion: install a mount for your iPod on or near the dash, if you plan to use it while in motion.

Wean yourself off “Connection Addiction”

Ten years ago, we all accepted the necessity of being ”incommunicado” while driving to an appointment, Now some techno-buffs get anxious if disconnected for more than a few minutes. Healthy? You decide. But we do notice that drivers who can avoid “Connection Addiction” seem to be more alert and responsible drivers. Food for thought…