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.
0
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.
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.
Know
how to
go
uphill. You may want to shift down
0
0
0
0
to a lower gek
The
lower gearshelp cool your engine
and transaxle, and you
can
climb the hill better.
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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