Moving off on hills

Moving off uphill

Your vehicle will want to roll back. To avoid this you must use the accelerator, clutch and parking brake together.

Much of the drill for moving off uphill is the same as for moving off on the level.

• With your left foot, press the clutch pedal down and hold it down.
• Move the gear lever into first.
• With your right foot, press the accelerator further than you would when starting on the level and hold it perfectly steady. The amount will depend on how steep the hill is.
• Bring the clutch pedal up to the biting point, which will be slightly higher than when you’re moving off on the level.
• Make your safety checks, use your mirrors and look round over your right shoulder to check the blind spot.
• Signal if necessary.
• Look round again if necessary.
• Lift the parking brake and release the button while you press the accelerator a little more. How much acceleration you need depends on the steepness of the hill.
• Let the clutch up a little more, until you feel and hear the engine trying to move the vehicle.
• Release the parking brake smoothly.
• Gradually press the accelerator as the vehicle begins to move, and bring up the clutch pedal smoothly.

Some vehicles are fitted with hill-start controls that are designed to stop a car from rolling away when on a gradient. If your vehicle is fitted with such a device, consult your vehicle handbook and follow the manufacturer’s guidelines.

Controlling the parking brake and clutch

This requires good timing. If you release the parking brake too soon, the vehicle will roll back.

The vehicle will stall if

• you release the parking brake too late
• you bring up the clutch too quickly or too far • you don’t use enough acceleration.

Practise the steps until you’ve mastered the technique. Then practise moving off uphill from behind a parked vehicle and at an angle without rolling backwards.

Moving off downhill

This routine is simpler than moving off uphill because the weight of the vehicle helps you to move away.

The aim is to prevent the vehicle from rolling forward down the hill while moving away.

• Press the clutch pedal down fully.
• Engage the appropriate gear for the steepness of the hill. (This could be second gear.)
• Apply the footbrake.
• Release the parking brake, keeping the footbrake applied.
• Check mirrors. Look round just before you move off to cover the blind spots
• Signal if necessary.
• Only move away when you’re sure it’s safe to do so.
• Look round again if necessary.
• Release the footbrake and release the clutch pedal smoothly as the vehicle starts to move.