Drive Stick Shift Up a Hill

If you've ever attempted to drive a stick shift on the streets (or hills) of San Francisco, you know the importance of being able to properly handle your manual-transmission vehicle on an incline. Driving up a steep hill can be a white-knuckled ride, especially when you stop and start again with a car closely on your tail. Vehicles with manual transmission have a tendency to roll backward--especially on a hill--and coordinating the clutch and gas pedal while minimizing rollback can be an intimidating experience. With practice, however, driving a stick can be an exciting and pleasurable experience.

Make sure your seat belt is fastened securely.

Activate the parking brake while waiting for the light to change, or at a stop.

Step on the clutch with your left foot; and with your right foot on the brake, put the car into neutral.

Shift the gear shift into first gear when the light changes, or from a stop.

Slowly ease off the clutch while simultaneously moving your right foot quickly from brake pedal to accelerator.

Release the parking brake just as you feel the car beginning to get into gear.

Begin driving up the hill, giving more gas as needed, revving the engine a little higher than on flat terrain, so as to not lose momentum.

Shift quickly once the car is revving high in first gear; depress the clutch again, and shift to second.

Immediately release the clutch while giving the engine gas.

Posted in: Driving Tips