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In this summer season, as soon as the holidays start in schools and offices, people start moving to cool hill stations to get relief from the scorching heat of the plains. The thrill of driving a car amidst the cool winds of the mountains and beautiful valleys is something different. But, keep in mind that driving on the winding, narrow and unknown roads of the mountains is not at all as easy as driving on the flat roads of the plains or highways. The sharp and blind turns, long steep climbs and dangerous slopes not only test the driver’s patience and skills but also test the driving capability of your vehicle. Many times people set out on a long mountain journey without any preparation or incomplete knowledge, due to which serious problems like overheating of the car engine, weakening of brakes or burning of the clutch plate start appearing on the way. Let us know what things you should pay special attention to to make the journey to the mountains safe and memorable. Avoid these mistakes completely: These can be costly. Continuously pressing the brakes (Overusing Brakes): The most common and dangerous mistake people make while descending from the mountains is that they continuously press the brake pedal. By doing this, the brake system becomes very hot due to which its grip (Braking Efficiency) starts reducing. This is called ‘brake fade’ in automobile language, which increases the risk of brake failure. Wrong Gear Selection: While climbing uphill or descending a slope, the vehicle should always be kept in lower gear (like 1st or 2nd gear). In lower gear, the car’s engine gets better power and with the help of ‘engine braking’ at the time of landing, the car automatically remains under control without pressing the brakes too much. Blind Turn Overtaking: There are many such turns in the mountains where the vehicle coming from the front is not visible at all. Trying to overtake the vehicle ahead on such blind turns is directly inviting a major accident. Overloading the Car: In the excitement of vacation, people load more stuff than necessary on the roof and trunk of the car. This extra weight doubles the pressure on the car’s suspension, engine and brakes, significantly reducing the car’s performance on hills. Plain vs Hill Driving: Do’s and Don’ts To stay safe on hilly roads, you have to change your plain driving habits a bit. You can easily understand this from the table given below: These checks are very important before starting the journey. Special advice from expert mechanics: Get your car completely serviced or general checked at least two-three days before leaving for a long and difficult journey in the mountains. The most important things are to check the grip and air pressure of the tyres, thickness of the brake pads, engine oil level, amount of coolant and the battery of the vehicle. If the coolant is old, get it replaced because it is most important to have the right coolant to keep the engine cool in the mountains. Some more important things for a safe journey: Keep the speed under control: In the mountains, the saying ‘if you take care of your eyes, the accident happens’ proves to be absolutely true. Therefore, always control the speed of your vehicle so that you can handle the vehicle immediately at any turn. Know the weather patterns: The weather changes very rapidly in hilly areas. In case of sudden heavy mist, fog or rain, use your vehicle’s fog lights and wipers and slow down your speed further. Keep an emergency kit with you: Always keep a working first-aid box, a good torch, extra bottles of drinking water, puncture repair kit and a tire inflator (small portable pump to fill air) with you in your car, so that you do not have to worry in any adverse situation. Traveling in the mountains can be very beautiful and enjoyable, provided you keep both your speed and your vehicle under complete control. Driving wisely and with proper preparation will make your vacation comfortable and memorable forever.