How To Drive In Mountainous Terrain
Most roads and Interstate highways that cross elevated terrain are largely smooth and present little risk.
Avoid driving crosswise. You could lose traction and slip sideways if you drive crosswise or turn on steep slopes. Drive straight up, straight down, or avoid the hill completely. Know the conditions on the other side of a hill before driving over the crest.
Start in a low gear. When climbing a steep hill, downshifting can put strain on the engine and possibly lead to stalling. Starting the ascent in a lower gear is better than downshifting later.
Take it slow. Observe all posted speed limits on curves, inclines, declines and straightaways.
Don’t ride your brakes. When traveling down steep grades, riding your brakes to keep your vehicle’s momentum in check puts unnecessary strain on your braking system and lead to overheating. If you're driving a manual transmission vehicle, shift to a low gear before beginning your descent to let the engine slow your vehicle instead.
Be courteous. If you’re driving a heavy recreational vehicle or hauling a trailer up a long mountain slope, pull over and let other vehicles pass when you can do so safely.
Plan ahead. Most roads that are particularly winding or hilly are clearly marked. Still, before your mountain trip, plan your route around the least difficult roads, especially if you are not confident that your camper, trailer or RV can handle the terrain.
