Hill and Mountain RoadsDriving on steep hills or through mountains is differentthan driving on flat or rolling terrain. Tips for drivingin these conditions include:• Keep your vehicle serviced and in good shape.• Check all fluid levels and brakes, tires, coolingsystem, and transmission.• Going down steep or long hills, shift to a lower gear.{CAUTION:If you do not shift down, the brakes could getso hot that they would not work well. Youwould then have poor braking or even nonegoing down a hill. You could crash. Shift downto let the engine assist the brakes on a steepdownhill slope.{CAUTION:Coasting downhill in NEUTRAL (N) or with theignition off is dangerous. The brakes will haveto do all the work of slowing down and theycould get so hot that they would not work well.You would then have poor braking or evennone going down a hill. You could crash.Always have the engine running and yourvehicle in gear when you go downhill.• Stay in your own lane. Do not swing wide or cutacross the center of the road. Drive at speedsthat let you stay in your own lane.• Top of hills: Be alert — something could be in yourlane (stalled car, accident).• Pay attention to special road signs (falling rocksarea, winding roads, long grades, passing orno-passing zones) and take appropriate action.See Off-Road Driving on page 4-12 for informationabout driving off-road.4-29
