Driving on steep hills or mountains is different from driving in flat or rolling
terrain.
If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you are planning to visit there,
here are some tips that can make your trips safer and more enjoyable. See
Off-Road Driving with Your Four-Wheel-Drive Vehicle
for
information about driving off-road.
| • | Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid levels and also the brakes,
tires, cooling system, and transmission. These parts can work hard on mountain roads. |
| • | Know how to go down hills. The most important thing to know is this: let
your engine do some of the slowing down. Shift to a lower gear when you go down a
steep or long hill. |
| | 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.
|
| • | Know how to go uphill. You may want to shift down to a lower gear. The
lower gears help cool your engine and transmission, and you can climb the hill better. |
| • | Stay in your own lane when driving on two-lane roads in hills or mountains.
Do not swing wide or cut across the center of the road. Drive at speeds that let you
stay in your own lane. |
| • | As you go over the top of a hill, be alert. There could be something in
your lane, like a stalled car or an accident. |
| • | You may see highway signs on mountains that warn of special problems.
Examples are long grades, passing or no-passing zones, a falling rocks area,
or winding roads. Be alert to these and take appropriate action. |
