If
you drive regularly
in
steep country, or
if
you’re
planning to visit there, here are some tips that can make
your trips safer and more enjoyable.
0
Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid
levels and also the brakes, tires, cooling system
and transaxle. 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.
If
you don’t shift down, your brakes could get
so
hot that they wouldn’t work well.
You
would then
have poor braking or even none going down
a
hill.
You
could crash. Shift down to let your engine
assist your brakes
on
a
steep downhill slope.
I
A
CAUTION:
Coasting downhill in NEUTRAL (N)
or
with the
ignition
off
is
dangerous.
Your
brakes will have to
do
all
the work
of
slowing down. They could get
so
hot that they wouldn’t work well.
You
would
then have poor braking or even none going down
a
hill.
You
could crash. Always have your engine
running and your vehicle in gear when you
go downhill.
0
0
0
0
Know how to go uphill. Drive
in
the highest gear possible.
Stay in your own lane when driving on two-lane
roads
in
hills or mountains. Don’t 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.
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