What Gear to Use for Manual Transmission Cars on Uphill and Downhill Slopes?

[McMargaret]

1. For gentle slopes, such as downhill sections on urban overpasses or mild slopes on rural roads with good visibility and no obstacles ahead, you can use the highest gear or coast in neutral. However, coasting in neutral must not cause the engine to stall. Use the brakes appropriately to slow down if necessary. 2. When driving downhill on mountain roads, control the speed mainly by gear selection. For slopes that are not very steep, you can gradually downshift from higher gears. If the speed still feels too fast, you can skip gears when downshifting, such as shifting from 5th to 3rd gear, which demonstrates the flexibility of manual transmissions. Always remember to yield to uphill traffic when going downhill, especially on curved downhill sections. Be sure to observe uphill semi-trailer trucks and, if necessary, stop before a turn to yield, leaving enough space for large semi-trailers to maneuver. 3. For steep or sharp slopes, use low gears to control speed. If 3rd gear feels too fast, downshift to 2nd gear. For exceptionally steep slopes, you must use 1st gear or engage the hill descent assist system.