Moving Off Uphill Tutorial

On your driving test, when performing a downhill start, the examiner will expect you to:

If moving into a flow of traffic, you will need to allow for a bigger gap in the traffic to move into because it will take you longer to build up speed going uphill. You may also need to press the accelerator pedal a little more than you would if moving off on the level. If the car jerks, you need to let the clutch up more slowly or press the accelerator a little more. If the engine revs loudly, use less pressure on the accelerator or let the clutch up a little further.

When driving uphill, the engine has to work harder. This means you will have to accelerate for longer in the lower gears and make upward gear changes promptly so that the car doesn't slow excessively when you push the clutch pedal down.

Do not let the car roll backward while performing a hill start, as it could prove dangerous. If this happens on your test, you will score a major or minor fault depending on how severe the rollback is.

Driving Uphill

When driving uphill your car will need more power to maintain its speed so you may need to change down a gear. The steeper the hill the lower the gear you should use.

A hill is a hazard, so make use of the MSM/PSL routine as you approach the hill. Look for road signs that may tell you how steep the hill is, and for any slow-moving vehicles that are already on the hill. Decide whether you need to change to s lower gear. If so, do so before you start to climb.

In comparison to driving on the level, when driving up a hill:

Parking On A Hill

Make sure your handbrake is firmly engaged. If facing downhill, turn the front wheels into the kerb and put the car into reverse gear. If facing uphill turn the wheels away from the kerb and engage first gear.

What the driving test examiner expects of you during the driving test

Warning Signs

When approaching a hill you will see a warning sign that tells you how steep the upward slope is.

The figure shown as a percentage (in the image 20%) tells you the gradient of the slope. So 20% means for every five feet along (horizontal) the road rises one foot (vertical).

Uphill Road Sign

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