How To Execute Going Up A Slope Successfully



Most people have secrets which only they themselves know. This includes fears, likes and dislikes. When I was young, living in the villages surrounded by all kinds of trees, I could climb up all sorts of trees.

Despite my mother giving me stern warnings, as it is dangerous climbing fruit trees, I usually ended up climbing trees such as mangosteen, rambutans, langsat, guava and even rubber trees as well.

But to tell you the truth, the most difficult and one that I feared to climb most was the coconut tree. Climbing up a tall coconut tree which sometimes grow up to a height of 40 – 50 feet tall is one thing. But to pluck the fruits of this tree successfully, one has to climb over its leaves and then sit amongst its many branches on top. This would enable us to twist and kick down the fruits which we wanted.

In driving however, my over 40 years of being a driving school instructor, experience tells me what a potential student fears most is actually how to execute going up a slope successfully.

In Malaysian driving circles, the driving test which a student faces include Part II of its parking test. Part II encompasses slope, side parking followed by the 3 point turn maneuvers.

What instructor end up is having our students asking us time and time again, “is it difficult going up a slope?”

This has led me to come to a conclusion, whereas in reality, what a student fears most in their driving course is actually going up a slope.

I am not aware of other driving instructor but personally, I make it a point to impart to my students the technique of going up a slope the very first 3 or 4 lessons of the course.

As I impart to my students the basics of driving which is done usually at housing estate where there are fewer cars around, I usually stop at small slopes to teach my student the art of slope climbing.

The gradient selected are mostly no more than 10% only. In areas where I live and conduct my practical lessons, the housing estates usually have such slopes around. Call it godsend or luck if you may.

What I usually do when I see a small slope ahead is to stop the car and pull up the handbrake. I will then proceed to explain to my student that we are in fact on a slope. Explain to the student that in such an area, failure to install the handbrake is dangerous.

Then I release the handbrake and demonstrates to the student that by not installing the handbrake on will cause the vehicle to roll backwards, thereby hitting the vehicle behind thus causing an accident.

By demonstrating the above to a student who is new and knowing nothing much about driving, the student will be taught in areas where there is a slope, one has to quickly pull up the handbrake.

How does an instructor then proceed to teach a student the mechanics of going up a slope?

With the handbrakes on, press the accelerator harder than normal. Explain to the student that he or she can now hear the engine audibly or clearly. Do this a few times until the student is able to distinguish the difference of the engine sound rather well.

If you should possess a newer model of a vehicle for tuition purposes, so much the better. Go on to explain to the student that by looking at the R.P.M meter, a student has to accelerate until this meter should ideally reach 2.

With the tachometer hitting 2000 rpm, the car will now be strong enough to go up the slope successfully. Proceed then to request the student to leave his or her leg (which is the clutch) until the car begins to jerk slightly.

Control the clutch well, accelerate the petrol a little bit more, leave the brake and voila, the car will end up going up the slope successfully.

What I am explaining may sound rather easy. But in reality, only if you have 40 or so years of experience will you then be able to successfully guide your student in going up the slope.

Slopes At The Institutes

Next, I will explain the proper manner of teaching students how to process up the slope at the institutes’ premises itself.

At institutes, slopes there are much higher having a 30 – 40% gradients . Obviously, slope of such nature are much more difficult to execute.

But to students who have already been exposed to the low slopes found at housing estates earlier, the basics are the same and they should in fact have little difficulty in going up the slopes found in the institutes.

The only differences this time around, they will have to accelerate a little bit much harder to go up the slope successfully.

How does an instructor teach a student regarding slope at the institutes’ premises?

Learning how to go up the slope will require an hour or 1 lesson of instruction. First of all, let it be known to the student that when going up the slope, use the first gear. When ascending the slope, put the steering straight.

Use more petrol, accelerate harder than normal thus enabling the car to proceed up the slope. On descending, the student it taught to step down the clutch. This is to prevent the vehicle from stalling.

At the stop-look-go sign, a student is taught how to stop. The process of going up the slope and down it will be done at least 7 – 10 times.

Next, the student is taught the proper and correct manner to stop at the apex of the slope. In this aspect, the student is advised to look at the right hand side mirror to be in line with the 1st stick which is placed on the right hand side of the slope.

As the student has already learnt how to go up the slope at housing areas, to attempt going up the slope at the institutes’ level will therefore be no problem at all.

During practical test, a student is given 3 minutes to perform the slope. He or she is in fact given 2 chances. And do remember, when proceeding up the slope, the engine should ideally not stall as this may cause a student to fail.

It cannot be denied, many students face problems while going up the slope. But it is my belief that with adequate practice, students will find it rather easy to perform this aspect of their test quite successfully after all.

By | 2012-11-02T12:48:26+08:00 March 29th, 2010|Slope Test|17 Comments

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17 Comments

  1. L June 14, 2010 at 7:31 am - Reply

    Hi Cikgu Yap,i’ve the problem in Slope Test….can i ask that is it failed if the front tyre is over the yellow line just a little bit?just like the right hand sides mirror is over the first stick a little bit…and what about the contrary? the tyre is not over the yellow line but it is not reach the yellow line fully…maybe just 75%….is it failed too??

    • Cikgu Yap June 15, 2010 at 7:44 am - Reply

      Your front tyre has to be 100%, 75% on at least 50% to considered a pass. However, there are other requirements which the tester looks for too.

  2. fail candidate October 8, 2010 at 1:04 pm - Reply

    Hi Cilgu Yap, I pass when going up the slope but fail when going down the slope.

    The Kancil car start to shake and I let go the handbrake, holding the clutch and the accelerator but the car roll backwards….

    Is it had to press the accelerator harder, until the floor, maintain the clutch, the car shake, then let go the handbrake? had problems in knowing whether the 1st gear was engaged or not…because usually practice with Kelisa. had to re-take on 15th Oct 2010

    • Cikgu Yap October 12, 2010 at 1:13 pm - Reply

      Basically, to go up the slope successfully, follow:
      i) Enter gear one.
      ii) Step accelerator til you hear engine humming averagely loud.
      iii) Maintain 2 seconds this situation.
      iv) Slowly release clutch til car jerks and maintain the position well.
      v) Step on accelerator a little more and release hand brake.
      vi) Release clutch further.
      vii) Half way done the slope, step on the clutch and control brakes.

  3. Atoshi November 15, 2010 at 10:51 pm - Reply

    Thanks for the info. I am a new learner, whenever I am in a trafiic signal stop and try to move ahead as signal becomes green most of the times my vehicle shuts off. Why does it happen? Is it because I release the clutch little faster? After I starts the car with clutch pressed and once I try to release the clutch it begins moving backward!! I had to press break at this point ( I should use hand break I know) , it happens specially when the road is very little in up slope way (and in India – vehicle stands very close) once I release the brake, I try to swiftly move from brake to accelerator (little more) till the vehicle moves forward and most of the times once start moving forward I have to immediately use break again there would be vehicle very infront of me. I have to learn use of hand break – i feel like my steering would not be in control if I use hand break with one hand. I would like to ask you – using clutch and break can I stop my vehicle from moving backward.

    Thanks again for your help…

    • Cikgu Yap November 25, 2010 at 11:03 pm - Reply

      At traffic lights, your engine stall because you have not stepped on the accelerator pedal hand enough. At slope area, pull up the handbrake. To prevent car moving backwards, pull up hand brake. Then leave up the clutch far enough. This will eliminate the vehicle going backwards.

  4. Marwan Noman February 3, 2011 at 11:00 am - Reply

    Dear Mr.Yap,

    Can you please help me regarding the slope going up? because i was practicing in the school and it was going very well, but when the instructor is next to me asking me to make it reach 2.5 in the meter, I get confused and it goes very hard and sometimes i dont do it at all.

    can you please provide me with the exact steps to do the slope: (I need very details step, btw sometimes after i released the handbrake i used to be stuck in the middle so the car is not going forwards or backward, any idea how to make it go forward???)

    Note: I have QTI test on Monday, i will appreciate if you can provide me some tips

    Regards
    Noman

    • Cikgu Yap February 7, 2011 at 4:51 pm - Reply

      Each driving instructor has his manner of teaching you slope. My method will further confused you. You should seek your own driving instructor for help.

  5. ks rawat July 31, 2011 at 2:26 pm - Reply

    Good lessons to learn for all.

  6. scaredofdrivingtest December 23, 2011 at 9:52 pm - Reply

    thx for the info! :)
    erm, if the car has come to a traffic light, and just nice it’s green but there’s car infront of me, so I have to press clutch and brake? but then the car will stop, so i release brake and release clutch for 3 secs? the car behind me keep honnnn me TTOTT and when i get nervous the car suddenly shuts down -.-
    and erm, am i suppose to press clutch before the bump? or just a slight brake? i tried a slight brake without clutch the car didn’t shut down but when i press too hard or sth it suddenly just jerk front and back and.. shuts down -.-
    TQ for ur help!

    • Cikgu Yap December 25, 2011 at 10:29 pm - Reply

      It appears that your driving ability is not that satisfactory. Get a friend to coach you in order to become a better driver.

    • Depeche March 3, 2012 at 6:50 am - Reply

      @scaredofdrivingtest – First of all u need to be positive buddy…believe me everyone is scared of tests or has been. I m from India too and to top it up from mumbai and i know the traffic condition. D first ting u need to understand dat if a car stalls there isnt nuthyn to be worried about…its ok to stall a car wen u r learning. So i wud advice u also to get to know ur cars clutch biting point first (see my reply post to tiara) wich goes a great way in helpin u drive better. Basically fir starters always keep ample space between u and the car in front. Stop where u can see d rear wheels of the vehicle in front. So even if u accelerate hard enough there is time for u to brake n declutch to avoid collision n engine stalling. Practise it in a parking lot.

  7. tiara zaharen February 2, 2012 at 8:30 am - Reply

    Mr.Yap. I got serious problem when it comes to climbing hill. I cannot control my left foot on clutch and sometimes i release my right foot on accelerator without noticing i do so and the handbrake is tight and is hard to push down.

    I dont think i can make it. Is there any other way i can do,that is without raising up the handbrake??? I can be sure to stop on the yellow line without looking out. So i am kinda hoping if there is a way to stop on the hill without playing with handbrake. Thank you.

    • Depeche March 3, 2012 at 6:41 am - Reply

      Hey tiara i advise u to first do a small exercise in a parking lot. Engage 1st gear and then slowly release clutch till u feel d vehicle is tending to move forward (pay attention to the audible changes in the engine running). At this point again press d clucth to the floor. Repeat this exercise 5-6 times and most likely u will get an idea of the point (distance) at which the transmission is getting engaged with the engine. This point is called Clutch biting point. Pls note that the biting points are not same in all cars. Once u know ur car well then you can follow the steps mentioned by mr. Yap. Hope this helps. All d best and happy motoring!!!

  8. Depeche March 3, 2012 at 6:54 am - Reply

    @tiara – if u master this believe me u wudnt need the parking brake at all on slopes…In US n Gulf countries if u use parking brakes while u r supposed to climb a slope u r failed in d driving test. Whereas in UK if you dont use it, u get negative points….So choose d one which suits u

  9. Jeremiah April 9, 2013 at 5:26 pm - Reply

    Cikgu Yap, I have a question?. Once I am at the slope (up), I press my clutch and foot break, change the gear to neutral and then put the handbrake, release the clutch and foot break and show my hands. Then I press the clutch and change to gear one. I slowly release the clutch and I realize the car is vibrating. So I press the accelerator and the vibration stops. After doing my balancing with the clutch and accelerator, do I keep my foot still (fixed) on the clutch and accelerator and let the car parse the slop (up) to slop (down) and then release the clutch completely and put on a live brake to control the speed when I go slop (down) ?. Thank You.

    • Cikgu Yap April 11, 2013 at 7:30 pm - Reply

      You seem very uncertain of your slope procedures. Get your instructor to teach you well.

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