Hill starts

By the end of this topic you can

• You can move off uphill in a manual car without rolling back.
• You can move off uphill in an automatic using the brakes correctly.
• You can move off downhill smoothly.
• You can park safely on a slope.

What you need to know and understand

• Do not let the car roll back. It is dangerous for the car or cyclist behind you.
• Before moving off from the kerb on a hill you still need to check traffic and signal for at least 5 seconds.
• In a manual car, you need a little more accelerator than on flat ground and must hold the biting point.
• In an automatic, hold the car on the footbrake or park brake, not on the accelerator.
• Many newer cars have hill-hold assist, but it only holds the car briefly. Do not rely on it.
• When parking on a slope, turn your front wheels so the car would roll into the kerb, apply the park brake and leave it in gear (manual) or P (automatic).

Uphill start in a manual

1. Keep the park brake on and press the clutch down. Select first gear.
2. Press the accelerator a little more than on flat ground and hold it steady.
3. Lift the clutch slowly to the biting point. You will feel the car pull against the park brake and the bonnet may rise slightly.
4. Check mirrors and the blind spot, and signal if you are leaving the kerb.
5. When it is safe, release the park brake. The car should hold or creep forward.
6. Lift the clutch a little more and add accelerator to move away smoothly.

Uphill in an automatic and downhill starts

In an automatic, hold the car on the footbrake or park brake with D selected. After your checks, move your right foot from the brake to the accelerator and press firmly enough to stop the car rolling back. If using the park brake, add a little accelerator before releasing it.

Going downhill, gravity helps. Hold the car on the footbrake, select a suitable gear, release the park brake, check and signal, then ease off the footbrake and let the car roll forward under control. In a manual, lift the clutch smoothly so the engine helps slow you.

Parking on a slope

Turn your front wheels so that, if the car moved, it would roll into the kerb rather than into the road. Apply the park brake firmly. In an automatic select P. In a manual, leave it in a low gear, first or reverse, as your state handbook advises.

Common mistakes

• Releasing the park brake before reaching the biting point, so the car rolls back.
• Revving the engine hard and slipping the clutch for too long.
• Holding an automatic still on the accelerator at traffic lights on a hill.
• Forgetting your mirror and blind spot checks because you are focused on the pedals.

Test yourself: Hill starts

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Hill Starts Explained