Driving on steep hills or through mountains is different than driving on flat
or rolling terrain. Tips for driving in these conditions include:
| • | Keep the vehicle serviced and in good shape. |
| • | Check all fluid levels and brakes, tires, cooling system, and transmission. |
| • | Going down steep or long hills, shift to a lower gear. |
| | Caution: If you do not shift down, the brakes could get so hot
that they would not work well. You would then have poor braking or even none going
down a hill. You could crash. Shift down to let the engine assist the
brakes on a steep downhill slope.
|
| | Caution: Coasting
downhill in N (Neutral) or with the ignition off is dangerous. The brakes will have
to do all the work of slowing down and they could get so hot that they would not work
well. You would then have poor braking or even none going down a hill. You could crash.
Always have the engine running and the vehicle in gear when going downhill.
|
| • | Stay in your own lane. Do not swing wide or cut across the center of the
road. Drive at speeds that let you stay in your own lane. |
| • | Top of hills: Be alert -- something could be in your lane (stalled
car, accident). |
| • | Pay attention to special road signs (falling rocks area, winding roads,
long grades, passing or no-passing zones) and take appropriate action. |
See
Off-Road Driving
for information
about driving off-road.
