Hill Driving

A weekend trip to the hills is surely a good way to change your routine of partying out. But, the big question of “who will drive the car”, when its all first-timers for hill driving can be a bummer. Here are a few tips on how you should prepare for the hills

Health Check:

Make sure your car is in a good shape for hill driving. The first thing to do basic checks of engine oil, brake fuel, coolant level and most importantly, tyres. The car tends to heat up, requires more braking and a better handling, which is why it is important to do these checks. Also pack in a few things like a liter of engine oil, brake oil, coolant and some motion sickness tablets (just in case). Mechanics and cities are at a distance and you can’t make out how far you are from a city. Once done, its time to hit the road.

Be confident, not over-confident:

A basic tendency with hills is the curves and twists it has to offer before you reach your destination. Be confident at the speed which you can handle the car in case of an emergency. If someone is going at a higher speed than you, as your first experience would want to try, don’t get carried away and rev the car. If the car can handle it, you should still avoid. It is easier to gain speeds, but, all the more difficult to control on hills.

Don’t be hard on turns:

Motion sickness is one issue that can happen with the driver as well if he/she is hard on corners. This happens because the body has to adjust to the pressure put by the terrain and the car. Try to be as smooth as possible by coming in slow at turns and gradually turning the steering to the desired direction. Turning it hard will not only put a stress on you, but, also your beloved car. 

See a straight stretch, keep to your speed limits:

Hilly roads are slightly peculiar. At times, a straight long stretch tempts you to lower down the gear and rev it. It is a complete no-no if you don’t know your route well. You would not know it when the stretch would end and you would have to brake hard or turn hard, in both cases, putting yourself and the car behind you in trouble. Keep to your speed limit as you would while in turns. 

Take a breather:

Just like driving on plains, take frequent breaks. Hills may  require you to take more breaks than in plains. Know your system as when it needs a recharge. Do that if you feel tired. Have a coffee and then start again. Better late than never.

Lane driving is Sane Driving:

A number of signboards on hills say this not just for the sake of it. They mean it. Hills are usually two way roads, and you never know what is coming your way if you are overtaking at a blind turns. Avoid it as much as possible. The driver on the other side might not be expecting you. 

Ask you way:

It is very easy to get lost in undiscovered lands. GPS is a good, but, an expensive option. It is always good to ask for route if you get confused at any point. Regular bus drivers and Truck drivers plying on the route are the best people to ask for way since it is a routine for them. 

Honk if you care:

Horns are the best way to communicate and warn on-coming traffic about your presence. Honk while on turns and while driving at night, make sure all your lights work properly. Pack in a few extras. A blown out bulb is the last thing to happen on hills during night driving. 

Trust your leader and wait for your turn:

Hill driving also requires you to trust the vehicle going ahead of you. If you are going faster than him, blink the lights and wait for his signal. Till the time he does not signal you to overtake, do not. Sometimes, a driver may not know these signals and may hinder your momentum. Overtake him on a straight stretch after judging if you can. Do the same when you are leading. People do trust you even if you are a first timer.

Blink me:

While driving at night, use your headlights at low and high beam whenever you require. High beam shows you the stance of the road while being a pain for the on-coming driver’s eyes. Make sure to use low beam then. Also, use your blinkers to let the people behind you know if you are stopping or slowing down.

Engine braking plus brakes = Better control:

While uphill does not require you to check your brakes as frequently as possible, it’s the other way round in downhill. Check your brakes while driving. This can be done by checking your rear view mirror and stepping on the brakes gradually if there is no traffic behind you while driving. Also, use engine braking as much as possible. This would decrease fuel efficiency but, is a huge help while slowing down. Practice this at slow speeds before you actually try it if you have no knowledge of it.

Park in gear:

While parking on a hill, always put your car in gear. While in uphill parking, first gear and in downhill, reverse with the handbrake in both cases. This will assist in keeping your car parked in place.

All Set:

These are some of the basic rules that are to be followed while driving in hills. Instincts will also help you out. If you feel something is wrong in your car, have a good mechanic or your car helpline check it. Take it to the service station before you hit the road.