5 Ways to Drive a Manual Car on an Incline

Navigating through smooth and flat urban roads may be a simple task for some, but what if you have to face the challenge of uphill roads when visiting a new area? Of course, you need to know the basics of how to drive a manual car on an incline, so that the vehicle does not roll backward. Here are the tips.

1. Ensure the Incline of the Road

Visiting a new area is a unique challenge for drivers. This is because they are still unfamiliar with all the terrain they must traverse, so drivers must always be alert and focused during the journey.

Driving through urban roads may not be too difficult, considering the terrain is not too extreme and appears smooth.

But what if you have to pass through hilly or mountainous roads that tend to incline? Of course, this condition is a different story, as you need to analyze the level of incline of the terrain you must traverse.

If the incline is not too extreme, you can choose a medium gear as an alternative way to drive a manual car on an incline.

2. Traffic Jam on an Incline

When the holiday season arrives, it is no longer an unusual sight for urban residents to flock to various areas with beautiful and refreshing natural scenery like in the mountains. As a result, access to these places is filled with drivers from various regions.

In such cases, long traffic jams on uphill roads are unavoidable. In this situation, drivers must be prepared and know when to use the brakes and shift to a lower gear so that the vehicle does not roll backward, which could endanger other drivers.

3. Use the Handbrake

Realizing that the vehicle must stop on an incline, drivers must be ready to use the handbrake as a way to drive a manual car on an incline.

When you are about to accelerate again, you must fully press the clutch pedal, then shift the transmission lever to first gear. Meanwhile, the other foot should be ready to press the gas pedal when the handbrake is released.

Actually, how far the gas pedal should be pressed will depend on the steepness of the road. The steeper the incline, the engine needs to exert extra power to follow the command.

4. Use the Brake Pedal

One way to prevent the vehicle from rolling backward on an incline is to use the brake pedal. This braking technique is quite difficult, as the driver must press the clutch and brake pedals simultaneously. You must balance the vehicle's speed with the brakes so that the vehicle continues to move forward without sliding backward.

5. Maintain Distance from Other Drivers

One way to drive a manual car on an incline is to maintain distance from other drivers. An ideal distance should be maintained so that vehicles are neither too far apart nor too close, allowing other drivers to always be alert when facing unexpected situations.

Have you ever encountered a vehicle suddenly rolling backward while on an incline? This condition can occur when the driver of that car is unable to control their vehicle. Driving a car on an incline is not as easy as it seems, as you need skills that are constantly honed.

Other recommended readings

Easy Ways to Drive a Manual Car

4 Ways to Drive an Automatic Car in a Traffic Jam on an Incline