Hill and Mountain Roads

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.

- Shift to a lower gear when going down steep or long hills.

WARNING
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.

WARNING
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.

- Be alert on top of hills; 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 also:

    Lower Anchor and Top Tether Anchor Locations
    Rear Seat – Sedan or Wagon Rear Seat – Coupe (Top Tether Anchor): Seating positions with top tether anchors. (Lower Anchor): Seating positions with two lower anchors. To assist in loca ...

    Hill Start Assist (HSA)
    Non-hybrid vehicles with StabiliTrak have a Hill Start Assist (HSA) feature, which may be useful when the vehicle is stopped on a grade. This feature is designed to prevent the vehicle from rollin ...

    Erasing Speed Memory
    The cruise control set speed is erased from memory by pressing or if the ignition is turned off. ...