When on an incline, gravity holds your car in motion while driving. There are various methods of using manual and automatic cars to prevent the car from sliding because these two types of cars operate in different ways. After some practice, you can prevent the car from sliding when it's on an incline.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Preventing a Manual Transmission Car
Step 1. Stop completely
When on an incline, stop the car completely using the brake pedal or handbrake. This step is important, especially if the car is stopped on an incline or descent.
Some drivers prefer to use the handbrake to keep their feet on the gas pedal to start driving again
Step 2. Use the hill-start assist feature, if possible
Many manual cars have hill-start assist, which helps prevent the car from rolling backwards when stopped on a ramp. This feature also helps you move back from a full stop position. If the car has a hill-start assist feature, this function will work automatically so you don't have to press any buttons.
- The hill-start assist sensor will detect the car's position automatically when it's tilted. Hill-start assist maintains pressure on the brakes for a certain amount of time to help you move your foot from the brake pedal to the gas.
- Hill-start assist does not increase traction so if the weather is bad or the road is wet, the car can still slide backwards.
Step 3. Get into first gear
When it's time to move back, shift into first gear and step on the gas pedal. Don't release the handbrake just yet.
Keep pressing the gas pedal until the engine runs at about 3,000 RPM
Step 4. Raise the clutch at the biting point
At this point, you will feel the front of the car lift slightly as the clutch takes the weight of the car.
Step 5. Release the handbrake slowly
While lifting the clutch pedal slightly, release the handbrake gradually.
When the handbrake is released and inactive, the car will start to advance
Step 6. Release the clutch slowly while hearing the engine sound
When the sound of the engine fades, continue adding gas. Now you can drive uphill without sliding backwards.
Make sure you release the clutch until it is completely free
Step 7. Hold down the brake pedal if the handbrake does not work
If your car's handbrake doesn't work, hold down the brake pedal with the heel of your right foot while using your fingertips to press on the gas. You will release the brake pedal instead of the handbrake when you release the clutch.
If the handbrake doesn't work, take it to a repair shop for repair. Relying on the transmission to hold the car up an incline will cause wear and tear and exacerbate the impact on the engine
Method 2 of 3: Preventing the Car from Automatic Transmission
Step 1. Keep your foot on the brake pedal
If you wait for the red light to change, keep pressing the brake pedal to prevent the car from sliding backwards.
If you're going to be pausing for a while, switch gears to neutral. Always keep pressing the brake pedal
Step 2. Enter drive mode (steering wheel)
If you choose to switch gears to neutral, the car now needs to be switched to steering mode in order to move forward. Begin to step on the gas pedal while gently releasing the brakes.
When switching from the brake pedal to the gas, you need to move your feet quickly so the car doesn't slide backwards. It's natural for the car to back a few centimeters, but you should still be aware of the car or the person behind the car while switching pedals
Step 3. Move forward
Preventing the sliding of a car with an automatic transmission is simpler than a car with a manual transmission. When you're ready to go back from a full stop, the transition should be smooth from the brake pedal to the accelerator. Step on the gas pedal to halfway, or less if there is another car in front of you.
Depending on the steepness of the slope, you may need to step on the gas a little deeper
Method 3 of 3: Preventing the Car from Rolling Back When Parked on a Slope
Step 1. Park in parallel as usual
Cars will tend to slide if parked on a slope rather than a flat road.
Since parking on slopes is more difficult than on flat roads, you should be familiar with and skilled at parallel parking comfortably and confidently
Step 2. Turn the wheel
After parking the car on the ramp, turn the wheel away from the curb or shoulder. Thus, if the car's gears fall out or the emergency brakes fail, the car simply hits the pavement instead of sliding backwards.
If you're facing down, turn the steering wheel to the left so the wheel is pointing at the curb
Step 3. Change gears if the car has a manual transmission
For manual transmission, you need to change the car into first or reverse after parking the car.
If left in neutral, chances are the car will slide forward or backward
Step 4. Get into parking gear, if the car has automatic transmission
For automatic transmission, the car needs to be put into parking gear after the car has come to a complete stop in the parking lot.
- Keep pressing the brake pedal until the emergency brake is fully engaged and shifts the transmission into parking gear.
- If left in the other gear, the car's transmission can be damaged.
Step 5. Install the emergency brake
You can do it with manual and automatic transmissions. The emergency brake is the best safeguard to ensure the car doesn't slide forward or backward when parked on a ramp.
Step 6. Use a wheel chock
When parking your car on a steep slope, you can use a wheel block to prevent the car from sliding backwards. Wheel supports are usually in the form of wooden blocks that are placed behind the wheels of the vehicle.
- You can buy wheel mounts online, in a repair shop, or at a major hardware store. You can also make it out of wood.
- If the car is parked face down, place a wedge under the front tire.
Step 7. Get out of the parking lot safely
When you are ready to leave the parking lot and continue driving, you must release the wheel restraints (if used) and the emergency brake. When you exit the parking lot on a ramp, it is necessary to keep your foot on the brake pedal until it is safe to exit.
- When it's time to get out of the parking lot, move your foot from the brake pedal to the gas pedal. This transition needs to be done smoothly so that the car doesn't slide backwards onto the sidewalk or the vehicle parked behind you.
- Be sure to check the rearview mirror before exiting the parking lot.
Tips
- It's best to practice on quiet inclines until you're fluent, instead of doing it at a red light with lots of cars behind you.
- Store the wheel block in the rear trunk. Who knows one day you might need it.
Warning
- Always check the rearview mirror when parking the car on a slope. You can miss objects or people if you don't look around the car carefully.
- You need to be extra careful when a vehicle is close behind the car while you are parked on a ramp. That way, the car still has a "rescue net" in case it starts to slide.
