Hill Work - Learner Driver Tips [EBOOK] Ch 14

April 30, 2019 at 11:24 AM

In Chapter 14, learn about starting and stopping on hills in both manual and automatic cars.

Jump To:
14.1    STOPPING ON HILLS (AUTOMATIC)
14.2    HOW TO DRIVE AND STOP ON HILLS (MANUAL)
14.3    HILL STARTS FACING UPHILL (AUTOMATIC)
14.4    HILL STARTS FACING DOWNHILL (AUTOMATIC)
14.5    HILL STARTS FACING UPHILL (MANUAL)
14.6    HILL STARTS FACING DOWNHILL (MANUAL)

14.1           STOPPING ON HILLS (AUTOMATIC)

Driving up and down hills is essentially the same as driving on flat ground. However, you’ll need to take some extra steps to ensure that your car does not get pulled or pushed into dangerous positions. 

Stopping on hills

Follow these steps when you want to stop on a hill:

• Check your mirrors.
• Signal left.
• Look ahead at where you want to stop.
• Release the accelerator.
• Apply the brake gently.
• Keep the car in “Drive” until you completely stop, then put on the parking brake or handbrake.
• If you are parking the vehicle, put it into park and turn your front wheels so that they are angled towards the kerb i.e. turn your steering wheel right if you are facing up a hill or left if facing downhill.

14.2           HOW TO DRIVE AND STOP ON HILLS (MANUAL)

In a manual car, driving up a hill will require you to use a lower gear as well as use more accelerator than when driving on a flat surface at the same speed. Revs also need to be kept high enough when changing gears. 

Driving downhill, on the other hand, means that braking takes longer to stop the car. It is also easier for the car to go faster than you intend, so keep an eye on your speed.

Stopping on hills

The procedure for stopping on hills is as follows:

• Check your mirrors.
• Signal left.
• Focus on where you want to stop.
• Remove your foot from the accelerator.
• Apply the brake gently.
• Press in the clutch when the car is about to stop.
• Engage the handbrake and leave the car in 1^st gear if you’re facing up the hill or in reverse when facing downhill.
• Angle your wheels so that they are facing the kerb.

14.3           HILL STARTS FACING UPHILL (AUTOMATIC)

For practising hill starts, make sure to choose a spot that does not slope too steeply and where there is adequate space behind you. 

Follow these steps when you are ready to go:

• Pull up the handbrake and press the release button.
• Keep the handbrake engaged by holding it up.
• Press on the accelerator gently until you feel the vehicle pulling.
• Release the handbrake gently – if you start rolling back, pull up the handbrake again and repeat the procedure until you get the correct balance.
• When you have steady control of the car, indicate, check your mirrors, and do a shoulder check.
• If all is clear, push down the accelerator smoothly and pull away.

14.4           HILL STARTS FACING DOWNHILL (AUTOMATIC)

Hill starts are much easier when you are facing downhill because gravity is pulling you forward rather than backward. But even though it’s easier, several steps still need to be followed to ensure your vehicle is not pulled into a dangerous position. 

These are the steps for a downhill hill start:

• Press the footbrake down.
• Put the gear in drive.
• Release the parking brake or handbrake gently.
• Indicate, check your mirrors and do a shoulder check.
• Release the footbrake smoothly.
• Use as little or as much accelerator as you require to move at a safe speed. This will depend on the gradient of the slope and the type of vehicle you are driving.

14.5           HILL STARTS FACING UPHILL (MANUAL)

For practising hill starts, choose a gentle slope with ample space behind just in case the car rolls back. 

Follow these steps when you are ready to go:

• Pull up the handbrake and press the release button.
• Hold it up to keep it engaged.
• Let the clutch up slowly until you feel the car ‘bite’, then slightly press it in to steady the vehicle.
• Gradually press in the accelerator – you’ll need more of it than when driving on a flat surface.
• Release the handbrake slowly – if the car rolls back, pull up the handbrake and use the pedals to find steady control.
• Once you have steadied the car, indicate, do a shoulder check and check your mirrors.
• If it’s clear, press the accelerator smoothly as you let out the clutch to slowly pull away.

Keep driving up the hill until you get into the 2^nd gear – which you will need more accelerator to get to. Always ensure that you release the clutch slowly when shifting gears.

14.6           HILL STARTS FACING DOWNHILL (MANUAL)

It’s much easier performing a hill start when facing downhill than uphill as gravity will help you out instead of working against you. You’ll still need to follow a couple of steps to do it successfully and safely.

Here are the steps for a downslope hill start:

• Press the footbrake down.
• Put the car in the first gear.
• Release the handbrake.
• Indicate, check your mirrors and blind spot.
• Release the footbrake slightly while simultaneously releasing the clutch. You can give the car a bit of accelerator if you feel like it’s about to stall.
• Use the accelerator if needed as you pull away at a safe speed – how much accelerator you need will depend on how steep the slope is and the type of car you are driving.

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