Famous mountains and great rivers areself-drivingdestinations, but driving on mountain roads—with cliffs, deep gullies, steep slopes, sharp turns, and rugged terrain—demands not only good vehicle condition but also essential driving skills from the driver to ensure safety. Mountain roads are not as frightening as people imagine, because the more daunting the road looks, the more focused drivers tend to be. The key is to avoid fatigue while driving.
1.When driving on mountain roads, the physical effort required from the driver is greater than on regular roads, and the mind is often in a state of tension. This means drivers should adjust their seating posture before setting off to create as comfortable and relaxed a driving environment as possible. When passing through dangerous areas such as cliffs, avoid looking at the mountain scenery or peering into deep valleys, as this can distract you or cause unnecessary anxiety. Instead, focus on the road surface and try to drive along the center or close to the mountainside. Keep a firm grip on the steering wheel and never use emergency brakes to prevent skidding or falling off the cliff.
2.When driving in the mountains, your line of sight should be far ahead and take in both the road conditions and roadside environment. Try to utilize the full width of the road to choose your driving route. When approaching curves where visibility is limited, strictly follow the principle of “slow down, honk, and keep to the right” to avoid sudden encounters with oncoming traffic or obstacles after the turn.
3.Continuous curves are one of the defining features of mountain roads. Turning creates centrifugal force. When going uphill at slower speeds, centrifugal force is weaker, and the car’s center of gravity shifts backward, reducing understeer and making it easier to control the direction. When going downhill, the opposite happens: higher speeds and stronger centrifugal force shift the center of gravity forward, increasing understeer. In such cases, failing to slow down effectively before entering a curve significantly raises the risk of veering off the road.
4.Gear usage. On general continuous slopes, use 2nd or 3rd gear; heavier vehicles may opt for 1st gear to maintain adequate climbing power. If you use too high a gear when going uphill and the engine begins to lose power, shift down immediately. If sequential downshifting isn’t effective, skip gears as needed.
5.If your car stalls while ascending, stay calm. Immediately apply both the foot and hand brakes to stop the car and prevent it from rolling backward. While pressing the brake pedal, press the clutch pedal with your left foot, then restart the engine. Begin moving slowly, accelerate gently, gradually release the clutch, and at the same time let go of the foot and hand brakes. Once you’ve gained momentum, you can continue driving.
6.When driving on muddy mountain roads, sudden or excessive steering or improper braking can easily cause skidding or fishtailing. In such situations, keep to the center of the road or follow the tracks of the vehicle ahead, maintaining a speed between 30–50 km/h. If you need to encounter oncoming traffic or similar scenarios, ease off the accelerator in advance and gently press the brake pedal until your speed has noticeably decreased. Then shift to a lower gear, slowly steer toward the roadside, handle the situation properly, and then return to the center of the road or follow the previous tire tracks while gradually accelerating.