Should You Shift to Neutral After Stopping on an Uphill Slope?
3 Answers
After stopping on an uphill slope, there is no need to shift to neutral. Simply engage the handbrake, and once the car is stationary, gradually release the clutch until the engine starts to shudder, then release the brake to proceed. Additionally, there is no need to use the turn signal when performing parallel parking. Below are some tips for the uphill slope segment in the driving test (Subject 2): 1. Align with the center of the slope: Before ascending, align the car's reinforcement ribs with the center of the slope, or position the left wiper corner with the right edge of the slope. During practice, you can check the distance (by looking at the rearview mirror). 2. Stopping at the designated point: Drive slowly without stopping, and when reaching the designated point, press the clutch and brake simultaneously to stop, then engage the handbrake and release it immediately. 3. Gradually release the clutch: If you notice a change in the engine's sound, stabilize the clutch and avoid pressing it further. Release the brake, and the car will move forward smoothly.
I've been driving for over a decade and have plenty of experience with hill parking. For short stops in an automatic transmission car, I don't shift to neutral—just keep the brake pedal pressed. But beware: if traffic is backed up for more than a minute, it's better to shift to neutral and engage the handbrake. Last week, stuck on an elevated bridge slope in D gear with the brakes on for half an hour, I clearly felt the engine straining, and the car shook like a massage chair. Prolonged use like this can quickly raise the transmission temperature and, I've heard, even risk burning transmission fluid. The real key is preventing rollback—especially for cars with start-stop systems, which can roll back slightly when restarting. I once saw a car ahead roll back half a meter, nearly causing a rear-end collision. Most new cars now come with auto-hold; a green light means you don’t need to press the brake. But for older cars, it’s safer to just use the handbrake.
When I was taking my driving test, the instructor specifically mentioned hill starts. For automatic transmission cars temporarily stopping on a slope, never rush to shift into neutral. As long as your foot is on the brake, the car will automatically adjust the transmission pressure. Yesterday at the exit ramp of the mall while queuing, the car in front shifted into neutral and pulled the handbrake, and when starting again, there was a loud clunk, clearly indicating the transmission was impacted. If the road is particularly steep, the risk of the car rolling back instantly when in neutral is even greater. The correct approach should be: stop steadily by pressing the brake → keep in D gear → pull the handbrake → release the foot brake. This way, the power remains connected without putting extra pressure on the drivetrain. However, for stops longer than two minutes, turning off the start-stop function and shifting into neutral saves more fuel.
