KIA Sorento 2006 - Manual (Page 212)

Driving Downhill
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 vehicle
under control at all times.
DRIVING TIPS
5-25
WARNING
- Exiting Vehicle
Getting out on the downhill
(low) side of a vehicle stopped
across an incline is dangerous.
If the vehicle rolls over, you
could be crushed or fatally
injured. Always get out on the
uphill (high) side of the vehicle
and stay well clear of the
rollover path.
WARNING
- Leaving Vehicle
If you are going to leave your
vehicle, set the parking brake
and shift a manual transmission
to 1(First), or an automatic
transmission to P (Park).
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