Tips for Driving on Steep Hills
Steep hills can feel intimidating, but with the right setup and smooth inputs you’ll stay in control going both up and down. Use these steps to plan, climb and descend safely.
Before the hill
- Look ahead & plan: check gradient, traffic, curves, and stopping spaces.
- Build a buffer: increase following distance - hills amplify small mistakes.
- Choose a sensible gear early: avoid last-second shifts on the slope.
Uphill (climbing)
- Maintain momentum: enter the hill at appropriate speed within the limit.
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Gear choice:
- Manual: select a lower gear before the hill; keep revs in the engine’s torque band.
- Auto: if safe, select S/L or use manual mode to prevent hunting.
- Throttle smoothly: steady pedal to avoid wheelspin or lugging.
- If you lose speed: signal, check mirrors/blind spot and move left if there’s a slow-vehicle lane.
Downhill (descending)
- Engine braking first: select a lower gear so the engine helps hold speed.
- Feather the brakes: use light, brief applications - don’t ride the pedal.
- Watch temperature & fade: if brakes feel soft, slow more with engine braking and pull over safely if needed.
- Speed control: set a safe speed early; gravity will add speed quickly.
Hill starts (no rollback)
- Manual: Handbrake on → find the bite point → check mirrors/shoulder → release handbrake as you add throttle.
- Auto: Use the handbrake on steep grades to prevent rollback; ease onto throttle before releasing.
- Leave space: stop with extra room to the vehicle ahead in case of rollback.
Corners & visibility
- Scan far ahead; tighten lane position for best view through bends.
- Be prepared for cyclists, heavy vehicles and debris near the apex or verge.
Parking on a hill
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Face wheels:
- Uphill with kerb: wheels away from kerb.
- Downhill: wheels toward kerb.
- Secure the car: Handbrake on; select first gear (manual) or Park (auto). Turn wheels so the car would roll into the kerb, not traffic.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Changing gear late while climbing - do it before the grade.
- Riding the brakes downhill instead of using engine braking.
- Stopping too close to the car ahead on steep slopes.
Practice on moderate hills first. Build up gradually as your confidence and control improve.