Has the Hill Start Test Been Cancelled?
3 Answers
Starting from June 1, 2020, the hill start test has been removed from the Category 2 driving test for small and medium-sized automatic transmission vehicles. The scoring criteria for the hill start test are as follows: 1. Front bumper not aligned with the pole line: If the front bumper is not aligned with the pole line after the vehicle stops, and the deviation exceeds 50cm, it is considered a failure. If the deviation does not exceed 50cm, 10 points will be deducted. 2. Exceeding 30 seconds for starting: If the vehicle takes more than 30 seconds to start, it is considered a failure. 3. Wheels crossing the road edge line: If the wheels cross the road edge line during movement, it is considered a failure. 4. Vehicle rolling backward: If the vehicle rolls backward more than 30cm during starting, it is considered a failure. If the vehicle rolls backward between 10cm and 30cm, 5 points will be deducted per occurrence. 5. Distance between the vehicle body and the road edge line: If the distance exceeds 50cm after the vehicle stops, it is considered a failure. If the distance is between 30cm and 50cm, 10 points will be deducted per occurrence. 6. Parking brake not fully engaged: If the parking brake is not fully engaged after stopping, 10 points will be deducted per occurrence.
As a seasoned driver, I can tell you the hill start assist function hasn't been discontinued. It's actually quite practical, especially when driving manual transmission vehicles uphill to prevent rollback. I remember one rainy day climbing a steep slope - the moment I released the clutch, this feature stabilized the car, preventing a potential rear-end collision. Nowadays, most new vehicles come equipped with this function, with Japanese and German brands performing particularly well. Some entry-level models might omit it, but the majority of mid-to-high-end cars retain this feature as safety always comes first. When driving in congested urban areas, this function makes starting much smoother. If you're driving an automatic transmission vehicle, hill start assist is practically standard equipment, so there's nothing to worry about.
When I first started learning to drive, hill starts were a nightmare—I was always afraid of rolling back and causing an accident. Later, I learned about the hill start assist system, and it felt like a lifesaver! It’s definitely not discontinued; most new cars on the market today have it, especially SUVs or vehicles with automatic transmissions. New drivers should definitely check if their car has this button, usually located near the dashboard. It works by using sensors to detect the slope and automatically applying the brakes for a second or two to prevent rolling back when starting. When I bought my car last month, I made sure to confirm its presence, and the salesperson said it’s a standard safety feature. Don’t believe those rumors—it’s a stable and reliable function that saves us a lot of hassle.
