What is the appropriate gear to use when driving downhill?
2 Answers
It is appropriate to engage 2nd or 3rd gear when driving downhill. For automatic transmission vehicles, you can shift to L (Low) gear when descending. If there is no L gear, you can switch to M (Manual) mode and manually downshift. The techniques for downhill driving are: 1. Reduce speed to enter the downhill slope at a slow pace; 2. Shift to the appropriate gear before entering the downhill section—gear changes during descent are strictly prohibited; 3. Coasting in neutral is strictly forbidden; always engage the correct gear to utilize engine braking for controlling the vehicle's coasting speed; 4. Avoid sharp steering wheel movements on downhill sections, as the increased inertia and speed combined with improper steering can easily lead to rollovers.
As a veteran driver with twenty years of experience driving manual transmission cars, I always shift to a lower gear when going downhill. I remember last year driving on the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, where there were continuous downhill stretches for dozens of kilometers—relying solely on the brakes would have been disastrous. I typically choose 2nd or 3rd gear depending on the slope, keeping the engine RPM around 2500. This way, the engine's braking force helps control the speed, preventing the brake pads from overheating to dangerous levels. The same applies to automatic transmission cars—shifting to M (manual mode) or L (low gear) is the safest approach. Never coast in neutral; it's both dangerous and harmful to the car, and you’ll lose all power assistance in an emergency.
