Experience starting uphill with a manual transmission car

Uphill driving is one of the most difficult parts of the manual transmission driving test. For some inexperienced candidates, the uphill driving test is a nightmare because it is easy to fail. This is a difficult part of the test but it is completely possible to pass if we practice properly.

With automatic transmission vehicles, starting uphill is as easy as pie, not to mention vehicles with hill start assist technology, so the concept of starting uphill is easily forgotten. With manual transmission vehicles, this is not a simple task because if not handled properly, the vehicle will slide, affecting the vehicles behind, even causing accidents.

Currently, there are 2 basic experiences on how to start uphill that new drivers should remember to operate the car more effectively:

Use the handbrake

Using the handbrake (or emergency brake) is the safest and most effective way for drivers, especially new drivers, when starting off on a slope.

After the vehicle has stopped on the slope, the driver pulls the handbrake with the purpose of replacing the footbrake to hold the vehicle at the stop. At that time, the driver can take his foot off the brake and put it on the accelerator.

When needing to move back from a stationary position on a slope, the driver cuts the clutch into gear and releases the clutch, stepping on the gas pedal as if starting normally on a flat road. At this time, the handbrake is still not down so the vehicle will definitely not roll.

Continue to release the clutch slowly until you feel the steering wheel or gear lever vibrate (signaling that the clutch plates have engaged), then gently release the handbrake, listen and if the car does not slide, release the handbrake as well, the car will crawl up by itself. You can gently apply the accelerator if the car is not moving yet.

Use clutch, accelerator and foot brake

This is a more adventurous method that experienced drivers often use in practice, which is to not use the handbrake. However, this method should only be used for short stops and should not be used for long stops or parking.

After the car stops, release the clutch slowly until you feel the steering wheel or gear lever vibrate, then release the foot brake slightly and listen. If you feel the car drifting, step on the brake and try again. If you feel the car not sliding, release the foot brake completely, the car will crawl up by itself.

Use clutch, accelerator and foot brake

This is a more adventurous method that experienced drivers often use in practice, which is to not use the handbrake. However, this method should only be used for short stops and should not be used for long stops or parking.

After the car stops, release the clutch slowly until you feel the steering wheel or gear lever vibrate, then release the foot brake slightly and listen. If you feel the car drifting, step on the brake and try again. If you feel the car not sliding, release the foot brake completely, the car will crawl up by itself.

If you release the foot brake completely and the car is still stationary, apply a little more pressure to the accelerator and release the clutch slightly. Once the car is moving, keep the clutch and accelerator in place until the car passes the top of the hill.

When you first start practicing, it is inevitable that you will stall a few times. That is normal, and we just need to practice many times to gain experience to avoid making serious mistakes such as: stopping past the line, stalling, and the car rolling downhill. Depending on your driving skills and experience as well as the situation on the slope, practice these 2 ways of starting to control the car in the safest and most effective way.

According to VNN