THERE are two things that are invaluable to a driver while driving in the hills. One is the hand-brake and the second is the low gear.

Most cars these days have a five-speed gear box. The first and second gears come in handy for going up a slope. The hand-brake must be applied when you suddenly stop and then start the vehicle on a slope. This may happen when you come behind a truck crawling up in a low gear. For sure the truck is going to be overloaded and may come to a halt. You should maintain a safe distance. The vehicle ahead may roll back and it surely will if the driver is not using his hand-brake properly. In most cases take it for granted that the hand-brake of a bus or truck usually does not function. The drivers of these vehicles rely on their helpers to put a boulder behind the rear wheel to prevent the vehicle from rolling back. That means the huge vehicle may come rolling down and hit your bonnet. It may even smash a headlight.

When you have to stop like this on a slope, apply the hand-brake, and check the rear-view mirrors. Some foolish driver may be almost touching your rear bumper. Get into the first gear and rev up the engine. Release the clutch and as you feel the car move forward release the hand brake. The car will surge forward without rolling back even a millimetre. This is the proper procedure.

Often, we follow the wrong procedure: when the car comes to a halt one steps on the foot brake to prevent it from rolling back. Then one applies the first gear, takes the foot off the foot brake and presses the accelerator. In this way a few seconds can be lost and during this lapse, the car is likely to roll back. This can be dangerous. One can rollback into the vehicle behind. This may not only damage the taillight but may also dent the car. Besides, one is putting incredible strain on the engine and the clutch plate. The engine has to be revved up very high. Not only does one have to pull the car forward but one also has to overcome the force the rolling vehicle is exerting. If one doesn’t manage to move immediately, the situation can become more complicated. It can become more serious if one is on the edge of a road — when one cannot afford to roll back even a millimetre.

In countries abroad the driving test includes stalling the car on a slope and then starting uphill. If one "loses ground" as it is referred to, one fails the test! The test actually is of one’s ability to use the hand-brake. A hand-brake is also an indicator of the vehicle’s roadworthiness. If the car rolls back with hand-brake on, the inspector/examiner may regime the driver to get a certificate of roadworthiness.

There is a proper procedure to apply the hand-brake. First pull it up. One will hear a series of clicks, four or five, should not be six or seven. At four or five clicks the hand-brake is working well. If it’s five or six clicks, the cable needs adjusting. It means the hand-brake can be slow in reacting or may not be able hold the vehicle on a slope.

To release the hand-brake, pull it up a wee bit, press the brake release button then push the lever down. This is the proper procedure.

While applying the hand-brake, one need not press the release button. It is designed to be pulled up directly. The clicks one hears is the lock being engaged. If one presses the release button, the lock will not engage and there is a danger of the hand-brake not holding. Follow the proper procedure. It makes for safe driving.

Happy motoring!