For many learner drivers, hill starts are one of the most intimidating driving manoeuvres.
Whether you’re taking manual or automatic driving lessons, this insightful guide will give you all the information you need to master this tricky manoeuvre and tackle hill starts with confidence.
Why Are Hill Starts Important?
Driving uphill requires a bit more control than driving on flat land. It requires much more precision over your clutch and accelerator, to avoid you rolling back. By learning to drive uphill, you’ll make yourself a smooth and well-rounded driver.
They’re super important because they’re required in so many situations. Whether you’re waiting by some traffic lights on an uphill junction, or you live on a steep hill and need to parallel park, being able to safely control your car on a hill is a great skill to have.
How to Do a Hill Start in a Manual Car
If you’re learning in a manual car, hill starts require careful coordination of the clutch, accelerator, and handbrake. Follow these steps to learn how to perform a hill start efficiently!
Step 1: Prepare the Car
The first step in being able to safely complete a hill start manoeuvre is preparing your car. It’s a nice and easy step in this guide.
Whilst at a stop, apply the handbrake, keeping your foot on the clutch.
Step 2: Apply Gas
Before finding the bite point, you should start by applying gentle pressure to the accelerator (around 1,500-2,000 RPM) to provide enough power for your car to move forward when you come to releasing the handbrake.
Step 3: Find the Bite Point
Finding the bite point is a crucial step in preventing you from rolling back. The bite point differs from car to car, with some cars having a higher bite point than others. It’s important to make sure you’re comfortable and have a clear understanding of the car you’re driving so that you can safely and confidently complete this manoeuvre.
To find the bite point in your car, you need to slowly raise the clutch pedal until you feel the car starting to vibrate. This is the bite point, and you want to try and keep your foot steady on the clutch at this point, whilst keeping the handbrake on.
Step 4: Release the Handbrake and Move Off
Once you’re confident that you’ve found the biting point and you’re pressing appropriately onto the accelerator, make final observations and release the handbrake smoothly whilst keeping your feet steady in those positions.
If you’ve done everything correctly up until this point, your car should then start gradually moving forward. At this point, you can gradually lift your foot off the clutch, whilst applying some gentle pressure on the accelerator to gain some momentum and avoid stalling the car.
Tip: If the car starts rolling back, press the brake and clutch quickly to regain control, then repeat the steps from step one.
How to Do a Hill Start in an Automatic Car
If you learn to drive in an automatic car, you’re in luck with this one. Hill starts in an automatic car are generally easier since there’s no clutch to control. Here’s how to do it!
First of all, you want to apply your handbrake, with your car in drive.
After this, you should gently press on the accelerator whilst in drive (around 1500-2000 RPM), and you should start to feel the car trying to move forward.
Once you feel the car wanting to move forward, release the handbrake and apply some more pressure to the accelerator to allow you to move forward smoothly up the hill.
Many automatic cars actually come with a feature called “Hill Start Assist” which prevents you from rolling back for a few seconds after you’ve released the handbrake.
It’s important to note that, the steeper the hill, the more revs you’ll need, to prevent rolling back (assuming you don’t have Hill Start Assist).
Tips for Perfecting Hill Starts
Nobody expects you to absolutely master hill starts at the very first attempt. Take note of these important tips to help you gradually build confidence and execute these manoeuvres safely.
- Practice on hills with a smaller incline before attempting steeper hills.
- Stay calm and take your time—rushing can lead to mistakes.
- Make the most of Hill Start Assist if your car has it, but also learn the manual technique as this will allow you to complete this manoeuvre in any vehicle.
- Be aware of traffic around you when attempting a hill start.
- Keep practising—the more you do it, the better you’ll get at it.
Final Thoughts
Hill starts may seem a bit scary at first, but with regular practice and the right technique, they will soon become second nature. Following these steps will help you tackle hill starts with confidence.
We offer both manual and automatic driving lessons so if you’re learning to drive and want expert guidance, why not book a driving lesson with Amplify Driving School? Our experienced instructors will help you master hill starts and other essential driving skills.
