Experience Safely Driving a Car on Mountain Roads

Driving a car on mountain passes is the skill of driving a vehicle on steep and winding mountain roads, requiring high concentration and specialized driving techniques to ensure safety. This is one of the most complicated driving situations, the driver must master techniques and have experience in handling unexpected situations.

13 experiences drivers need to know to drive safely on mountain passes include:

• Do not follow the road markings.
• Follow the correct rules when going uphill and downhill.
• Always maintain the prescribed speed.
• Give priority to other vehicles.
• Handling when encountering unpaved mountain passes.
• Keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front.
• Pay attention to danger signs.
• Prepare enough drinking water and choose a reasonable resting place.
• Avoid overtaking recklessly, and be especially cautious when cornering.
• Avoid continuously braking when going downhill.
• Do not shift into neutral and turn off the engine in the middle of a pass.
• Use lights properly in different situations.

Before driving a car on mountain passes, you need to carefully check the vehicle's technical condition, rescue equipment, and learn carefully about the route, road conditions and weather. At the same time, drivers also need to ensure good health and a comfortable mind to be able to focus on driving the vehicle safely on mountain passes.

According to statistics from the National Traffic Safety Committee, road traffic accidents are a serious problem in Vietnam, with an average of 30-35 people dying every day. In particular, accidents on steep mountain passes often cause particularly serious consequences due to the complex terrain.

So, don't ignore these experience driving cars on mountain passes to ensure maximum safety during journeys.

Do not follow the road markings

When driving on mountain passes, especially sharp turns and narrow roads, staying close to road markings can cause many potential dangers. The reason is because when the vehicle goes too close to the line, the driver's vision will be limited, making it difficult to observe vehicles going in the opposite direction or obstacles that suddenly appear. This can easily lead to collisions or lane encroachment, endangering yourself and others.

According to statistics from the Traffic Police Department, in 2022, there were 1.568 traffic accidents on mountain passes across the country, of which up to 35% of cases were determined to be caused by driving. too close to the road markings.

Therefore, to ensure safety, drivers need to:

• Keep a distance of 0,5-1m from road markings depending on terrain conditions and vehicle density.
• Pay special attention when cornering, when visibility is limited due to fog or heavy rain.
• Control the appropriate speed, observe carefully and flexibly handle situations.

Follow the uphill - downhill principle correctly

When going uphill, the driver needs to pay attention to using the correct gear and step on the accelerator slowly and steadily so that the car does not run out of breath midway. Specifically:

• If you have a manual transmission vehicle, you should start from 1st or 2nd gear depending on the slope, then slowly increase the gear so the engine operates stably.
• For automatic transmission vehicles, you can use mode D or S (if available) so that the automatic transmission adjusts the appropriate gear ratio.

During the process of going uphill, you need to observe carefully and act flexibly if you encounter obstacles or vehicles going in the opposite direction, avoiding stopping in the middle of the slope, causing congestion and danger.

When going downhill, the most important thing is to control the vehicle speed at a safe level, avoid losing control or suddenly braking, causing skidding.

• With a manual transmission vehicle, the driver should shift to a low gear, take advantage of the engine brake to slow down, and at the same time release the accelerator slowly and use the foot brake gently.
• For automatic transmission vehicles, you can use the gearshift lever (if available) to pull down to a low gear, or switch to gear 2 or 1 in case of steep and long downhills.

However, you should not abuse the foot brake continuously because it can easily cause the phenomenon of "locked braking", reducing braking effectiveness and increasing the risk of losing control.

According to research by the Vietnam Traffic Safety Research Institute, correctly following the uphill - downhill principle can help reduce the risk of accidents on mountain passes by up to 42%.

Make sure to accelerate at the prescribed speed

When driving at too high a speed, the driver will have difficulty controlling the vehicle when encountering unexpected situations such as animals crossing the road, vehicle incidents ahead or bad weather conditions. At the same time, high speeds also increase braking distance, easily leading to collisions if not handled promptly.

Specific speed regulations:

• The maximum allowable speed is usually specified by signboards, ranging from 40-60km/h depending on each road section and terrain conditions.
• Flexibly adjust speed based on actual conditions of the pass.
• When it rains and the road is slippery, you should reduce your speed by about 10-20% compared to normal conditions.
• When encountering dense fog, visibility is less than 100m, you need to reduce speed to 20-30km/h, and turn on headlights and fog lights to ensure safety.
• Pay attention to keeping a safe distance from the vehicle in front, avoiding dangerous "head-first" situations.

Maintaining a stable speed, not suddenly increasing or decreasing, also plays an important role in helping the driver control the vehicle well on mountain passes. Instead of pressing the accelerator and braking continuously, you should use the accelerator pedal regularly, combined with the engine brake to make the vehicle operate more smoothly and safely. This is also a good habit to help save fuel and protect the engine.

Give priority to other vehicles

When driving on mountain passes, you need to actively observe and give way to other vehicles in a reasonable manner. If you encounter a large vehicle going in the opposite direction on a tight curve or a steep section, you should slow down, stay close to the right curb and be ready to give way. This both shows politeness and helps reduce the risk of collisions and congestion.

On steep mountain passes, priority should be given to vehicles going uphill because they often have difficulty accelerating and starting again if they have to stop in the middle of a slope. However, when giving way, you need to ensure safety and avoid stopping suddenly and causing obstruction. If you are not eligible to yield, you can signal to go first and wait for a suitable space.

Giving way should be based on the driver's observation, judgment of the situation and flexible handling.

Driving on unpaved mountain passes

When driving through unpaved mountain passes, drivers need to pay special attention to ensure the safety of themselves and their passengers. Specifically:

• Reduce speed to 20-30km/h depending on terrain and road surface conditions.
• Avoid sharp steering or sudden acceleration, which can easily cause skidding or loss of control.
• When entering a corner, slow down early, stay in the right lane, and do not cut corners when visibility is limited.
• Brake slowly, do not brake suddenly. If you slip, stay calm and slowly steer the vehicle in the right direction.
• Increase observation and prevent landslides, pets, pedestrians, and motorbikes from the opposite direction.

According to statistics from the Vietnam Road Department, unpaved steep mountain pass roads have a potential traffic accident risk three times higher than asphalt or concrete pass roads.

To ensure safety when driving on unpaved mountain passes, drivers also need to:

• Carefully check brakes, tires, shock absorbers, and lights before hitting the road.
• Prepare rescue tools such as spare gasoline, towing cables, flashlights, and tire changing tools.
• Wear neat clothes and appropriate shoes to flexibly handle situations.

Keep a safe distance from other vehicles

A safe distance helps the driver have enough time to react to unexpected situations, while avoiding the risk of a collision from behind when needing to brake suddenly.

The minimum safe distance on the pass is 30-50m, depending on speed and road surface conditions:

• 30km/h: minimum distance 30m.
• 40-50km/h: distance 40-50m.

In bad weather conditions, the safe distance needs to be increased by 10-20%.

Not keeping a safe distance is a common cause of rear-end collisions on mountain passes.

According to statistics from the Traffic Police Department, in 2020, up to 24% of collisions on mountain passes were due to not keeping a safe distance from the vehicle in front.

To ensure a safe distance, drivers need to:

• Observe your mirrors, assess the traffic situation behind you and adjust your speed accordingly.
• Actively give way or increase distance if the vehicle behind is approaching.
• Increase distance when ahead is a truck, passenger car, or container.
• Use clear, timely signals to warn of intentions to change direction, stop, or reduce speed.

Observe warning signs

Signs on the pass often provide necessary information about the terrain, road surface condition, potential dangerous spots as well as allowed speed limits.

When the road passes, drivers should note:

• Danger warning signs (red triangles with white borders) appear before dangerous turns, steep, narrow roads or limited visibility. When encountered, the driver needs to slow down and increase observation.
• It is necessary to seriously comply with speed limit signs and adjust speed to suit the actual conditions of the road surface, weather, and visibility.
• Other warning signs: slippery roads, fog, high winds, landslides, animals crossing the road... all require driver attention.

According to data from the National Traffic Safety Committee, in 2021, up to 15% of traffic accidents on mountain passes are caused by failure to observe or comply with signs.

Prepare drinking water and rest several times

Driving for a long time, especially on steep mountain passes, requires high concentration and consumes a lot of energy, easily leading to fatigue, dizziness, and even drowsiness, making it unsafe.

To maintain physical strength and mental clarity, drivers should prepare enough drinking water, preferably filtered water or mineral water. Limit the use of stimulants such as coffee, energy drinks, and alcohol because they can easily cause dehydration and fatigue, and snack on foods rich in fiber and natural carbohydrates to maintain energy.

Besides preparing enough drinking water and food, the driver also needs to plan a reasonable rest during the journey. Specifically:

• You should stop to rest for at least 15 minutes after every 2 hours of continuous driving.
• With a pass of over 4 hours, divided into many stops for rest and light exercise.
• Choose a safe, airy stop with seats and clean toilets.
• Avoid stopping in dangerous places, narrow roads, close to cliffs or near landslides.
• Do not park too close to the curb as it will obstruct traffic.

Do not overtake recklessly

When overtaking on mountain passes, drivers often face many challenges such as narrow roads, limited visibility due to mountainous terrain, slippery road surfaces, sharp turns... Therefore, if overtaking is not done properly and correctly, At this point, it is very easy for a collision to occur, falling into a deep abyss or crashing into a slope, causing serious consequences.

According to statistics from the Traffic Police Department, in 2020, up to 19% of collisions on mountain passes were related to reckless overtaking. Of these, 80% of reckless overtaking cases lead to fatal accidents.

To ensure safety when driving on mountain passes, drivers need to refrain from overtaking, especially when there are not enough favorable conditions. Before deciding to overtake, you need to carefully evaluate the traffic situation, terrain as well as your vehicle's acceleration ability.

You should only pass when you have carefully observed the front and rear, ensuring enough distance and time to complete the move safely, without affecting other vehicles.

Absolutely do not overtake a vehicle while cornering, on a narrow road, with limited visibility or when there is a sign prohibiting overtaking. In particular, you should not intentionally overtake when there is a large truck, passenger car, or bulky cargo vehicle ahead because these types of vehicles often obscure visibility, making it difficult to assess and handle unexpected situations.

Be cautious when cornering

Bends on pass roads often have a small radius, limited visibility, and complex terrain with a cliff on one side and a deep abyss on the other, posing a high risk of collision and overturning if not handled properly. .

Before entering the corner, the driver needs to prepare:

• Observe carefully the signs and road markings, and correctly evaluate the radius and slope of the turn.
• Pay attention to other vehicles, especially trucks and large passenger cars, to proactively slow down and give way.
• Reduce speed to a safe level (20-30km/h) before entering the corner, avoid sudden decrease once entering the corner.

During the cornering process, the driver needs to focus on observing and controlling the steering wheel gently and accurately, while keeping the accelerator steady so that the vehicle does not jerk or lose momentum. Be especially careful when cornering at night or in bad weather conditions such as rain, fog, or poor visibility. At this time, you must slow down to a lower speed than normal, turn on headlights or fog lights to improve visibility.

In particular, absolutely do not overtake a vehicle while cornering, even when the road is empty. Because when cornering, the driver's vision is limited, making it difficult to accurately observe and evaluate vehicles and obstacles ahead. Overtaking in this situation can lead to a head-on collision, with unpredictable consequences.

Limit braking when going downhill

Continuous braking when going downhill, especially on long and steep slopes, can be dangerous and reduce the life of the brake system. The reason is that when applying brakes continuously, a large amount of heat is created between the brake pads and brake discs. If the temperature exceeds the allowable threshold, parts such as brake pads, brake fluid, and pipes can be deformed, hardened, or even explode. This reduces braking efficiency, even causing complete brake failure.

Tips for drivers:

• Prioritize using engine braking combined with appropriate foot braking to control speed when going downhill.
• When starting to go downhill, shift to a low gear (number 2 or 1), release the accelerator slowly to let the engine brake itself. When you need to decelerate faster, use the foot brake but only lightly and intermittently.
• Observe, keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front, and be ready to handle unexpected situations.
• When it rains and the road is slippery, avoid sudden braking to avoid locking the wheels and causing skidding. Slow down slowly by lightly braking and shifting to a low gear.
• Before going downhill, carefully check the condition of the brake system. If there are abnormalities, take the vehicle for maintenance immediately.

Do not shift into neutral and turn off the engine when going downhill

When going downhill, one of the serious mistakes that drivers need to avoid is shifting to N (high gear) or turning off the vehicle's engine to save fuel. Reality shows that this behavior not only does not bring significant savings but also has many potential risks of causing insecurity, even leading to unfortunate accidents.

When shifting to N, all of the engine's traction will no longer have an effect on the vehicle's drive system. This means that the car will drift freely downhill, the speed will increase rapidly and it will be difficult to control. At this time, if the driver steps on the brake, it will be difficult for the vehicle to stop immediately because the vehicle's inertia is too great. As a result, it is very easy to lose control, crash into a slope or plunge into a cliff.

Similarly, turning off the engine when going downhill is also extremely dangerous. When the engine is turned off, steering assistance systems such as power steering, brake assist, ABS... will not work. This makes it difficult for drivers to control and handle situations, especially when encountering unexpected incidents. In particular, if the car drifts freely at high speed, it will be very difficult for the driver to restart the engine and regain control.

How to go downhill safely and effectively for drivers:

• Use the engine brake combined with the foot brake appropriately.
• Before going downhill, shift to a low gear (number 2, number 1), slowly release the accelerator pedal to let the engine brake take effect.
• When you need to decelerate faster, use the foot brake lightly and intermittently, avoid using strong, continuous force.
• Actively observe terrain, road conditions, and weather to adjust speed and braking techniques.
• Be careful when the pass has many sharp turns, limited visibility, rain, slippery road: reduce speed early before entering the corner, increase safe distance.

Use appropriate lights

When driving on mountain passes, especially at night or in bad weather conditions, using lights properly is extremely important to ensure the safety of yourself and other road users.

The light from the lighting system not only helps the driver clearly see the terrain and obstacles, but also helps other vehicles easily recognize and handle situations.

Things to note when using car lights on mountain passes:

• How to use lights when driving at night: Use high beam lights (headlights) on straight roads with good visibility and few oncoming vehicles. Switch to low beam (high beam) when encountering oncoming traffic at a close distance to avoid glare.
• Use lights in foggy conditions, limited visibility below 100m: Turn on fog lights (if available) or high beam combined with book lights (daytime running lights). The light beam is adjusted low, limiting reflection by fog, increasing visibility. Especially do not turn on the fog lights when the weather is clear or when you encounter oncoming vehicles.
• Use turn signals and warning lights: Turn on turn signals when changing directions, changing lanes, or stopping to signal other vehicles. Turn on hazard warning lights when driving in heavy rain or flooded roads.

According to data from the Traffic Police Department, in 2021, the error of not turning on the lights or using lights incorrectly accounted for 12% of the total traffic violations on mountain passes.

What to Note Before Driving a Car on Pass Roads?

Before driving a car on mountain passes, you need to carefully check the vehicle's technical condition, rescue equipment, and learn carefully about the route, road conditions and weather. At the same time, drivers also need to ensure good health and a comfortable mind to be able to focus on driving the vehicle safely on mountain passes.

• Check the vehicle's technical specifications

Before the trip, the driver needs to take the vehicle for a general check-up, paying special attention to systems directly related to operation and safety such as: brakes, tires, lights, wipers, steering system, suspension system... It is necessary to ensure that these systems operate stably and meet safety standards.

If any abnormal signs are detected, they should be repaired or replaced promptly before leaving.

• Check and replenish rescue equipment

When driving on mountain passes, drivers need to prepare rescue equipment such as fire extinguishers, tire repair tools, basic mechanical tools, towing cables, spare fuel tanks, flashlights, etc. These items will help promptly and effectively handle emergency situations such as vehicle stalling or tire failure in the middle of the road.

• Prepare adequate drinking water, food and necessary medicine

To maintain physical strength and good health throughout the trip, the driver should bring enough drinking water, light food and some essential medicines such as motion sickness medicine, stomachache medicine, cold medicine... Especially , it is necessary to have a set of primary medical equipment such as cotton, bandages, gauze, antiseptic alcohol... for timely first aid in case of minor injuries.

• Carefully study the route, road conditions and weather

Before departing, the driver should take the time to carefully study the travel route, clearly understanding the stops, gas stations, hospitals, and traffic police stations along the route. At the same time, it is necessary to update information about weather conditions and traffic situation to proactively develop appropriate plans and solutions.

• Ensure health and mental comfort

Driving on mountain passes requires the driver to be in good health, alert and highly focused. Therefore, before leaving, drivers need to have a reasonable rest and diet to ensure good physical health. Absolutely do not use alcohol, stimulants and drugs that affect the ability to drive a vehicle. Besides, it is also necessary to maintain a comfortable and optimistic spirit, avoid stress and prolonged fatigue.

Careful and thorough preparation before the trip will help the driver feel more confident and secure when driving, and at the same time be ready to deal with all situations that arise during the journey. This is also one of the key factors contributing to ensuring the safety and success of the entire trip.

Questions surrounding the issue of driving a car on mountain passes

1. How to drive an automatic transmission vehicle safely on mountain passes?

How to drive an automatic transmission vehicle safely on mountain passes:

• When going downhill, you should switch to a low gear (usually number 1 or 2) to take advantage of the engine brake and limit the use of the foot brake.
• Keep the speed low and steady, avoid stepping on the accelerator suddenly.
• Pay attention and keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front.
• Be prepared to change gears more often than usual to match the terrain.

Refer Guide to Driving Safe Automatic Transmission and handle common errors for newbies to gain more experience when using automatic transmission vehicles.

2. How to drive a MT manual transmission vehicle safely on mountain passes?

How to drive a MT manual transmission vehicle safely on mountain passes:

• When going down a mountain pass, you should shift to a low gear, usually 1 or 2, to take advantage of the engine braking.
• Limit the use of the foot brake, avoid continuously applying the brake causing brake failure.
• Pay attention and keep the speed low and steady.
• Be ready to change gears frequently to suit the terrain and keep the engine rpm stable.

3. What should you keep in mind when passing vehicles on mountain passes?

To pass other vehicles on mountain passes, drivers need to:

• Look carefully ahead, ensuring enough visibility and distance to pass safely.
• Pay attention to signs prohibiting overtaking, curves, and narrow roads.
• Absolutely do not overtake vehicles on roads with limited visibility such as mountain passes or curves.
• Do not try to overtake when there is a large truck or passenger car ahead because they obscure visibility.

Also, need to know How to handle dangerous situations such as: loss of brakes, tire explosion, stuck accelerator pedal, loss of control when cornering, getting bogged down, going downhill on slippery roads,... to ensure maximum safety when driving a car.

4. What items of the car need to be checked before driving on mountain passes?

Vehicle problems that need to be checked before trips include:

• Check the condition of engine oil, brake fluid, coolant, and transmission oil.
• Check the battery.
• Check the suspension and shock absorbers to ensure the vehicle operates stably.
• Check the brake system, make sure the main brake and handbrake work well.
• Check the tires, ensuring proper tread and tire pressure.
• Check the lighting system, brake lights, and turn signals.

5. Which unit effectively maintains and maintains cars before going on mountain passes?

Thanh Phong Auto is a unit specializing in providing professional car repair, maintenance and servicing services. This can be a good choice to check and prepare the vehicle before going on the mountain pass.

Reasons to choose Thanh Phong Auto:

• Has genuine equipment and many years of experience handling mid-range and high-end cars such as Toyota, Lexus, Acura, Mercedes, BMW, Audi,...
• Our staff is experienced and highly specialized in handling vehicle problems.
• Providing a full range of car care services such as maintenance, repair, parts replacement, and consulting and providing customers with the necessary tools and equipment to self-maintain their vehicles.
• Committed to providing customers with quality service and highest satisfaction.
• The working process is methodical and professional, meeting the diverse needs of customers.

With its expertise and experience, Thanh Phong Auto can be a reliable partner for general inspection and vehicle maintenance, making mountain passes safer and more convenient.

Wishing drivers always have safe, interesting and exciting journeys full of experiences on every road.