KIA Sportage 2007 - Manual (Page 235)

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Driving tips
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Driving downhill
Going downhill can be considerably
more dangerous than driving uphill.
When off-roading takes you downhill,
you’ll want to consider many of the
same things you thought about
before you went uphill. As a brief
reminder, those include:
• How steep is the downhill? Will I be
able to maintain vehicle control?
• What’s the surface like? Smooth?
Rough? Slippery? Hard-packed
dirt? Gravel?
• Are there hidden surface obsta-
cles? Ruts? Logs? Boulders?
• What’s at the bottom of the hill? Is
there a hidden creek bank or even
a river bottom with large rocks?
• Have changes in the weather con-
ditions and their effect on the ter-
rain since you went uphill made
your task more difficult?
Once you have decided that you can
go down a hill safely, try to keep your
vehicle headed straight down, and
use a low gear. This way, engine
braking can help your brakes so they
won’t have to do all the work.
Descend slowly, keeping your vehi-
cle under control at all times.
WARNING - Leaving vehi-
cle
If you are going to leave your
vehicle, set the parking brake
and shift a manual transaxle to
1(First),
or an automatic
transaxle to P (Park).