Driving rules from comeback from hilltop
Planning for vacations on the mountains and driving to the destination sounds real fun but travelling steep slopes and narrow mountain roads is a challenging job for anyone who is not aware of the precautions to be taken.
Uphill and downhill driving put extra strain on the vehicle’s many main components like engine, brake etc.
Here are some tips on driving skills which you can follow or at least take in note to prepare yourself to drive through mountains safely and help your vehicle.
Prevent Overheating engine
Climbing mountains can make your car overheat so it is important to take few steps to make sure the engine stays cool –
• If you are heading up and your car is struggling, shift into a lower gear to maintain a consistent speed.
• Turn of the AC and roll down the windows as AC puts additional stress on the engine and can in turn cause overheating.
• As you reach the destination keep the engine off for some times to give it rest and let it cool down.
• If pulling over is not possible immediately then turning on the heater can help by draining out some of the heat produced in the engine.
If, while running, your car starts getting hot then stop and let the car cool down for some time before continuing your ride.
Use lower gears while coming back
Shift to a lower gear before heading downhill. Use the engine and transmission to slow the car down instead of brakes .If you do need to brake frequently, pull over as soon as you start smelling the brakes burning. Let them cool down before starting and do not start if you figure out any issues with the brakes.
Be Prepared –
Mountain roads are mostly narrow with sharp and blind turnings so it is best to take precautions before hitting those.
Here are a few precautions you can follow
• Stay on your side and keep extra space between your vehicle and others so that any sudden stop from the vehicle infront of you would not cause you any trouble.
• Keep your vehicle within the allotted speed limit and take note of the warning signs.
• If you are moving slowly, pull in a turn out and let faster traffic pass by .
• Keep an eye for animals.
• If you are stopping or taking a brake, pull on your parking brakes and put rocks behind your tires to prevent the car from rolling backward.
Following these tips while going for the ride and keeping yourself in wits and using common sense will surely help you conquering your planned trip.