1996 Buick LeSabre Owner's Manual - Page 179

If you drive regularlyin steep country, or if you're planning to visit there, here aresome tips that can make your trips safer and more enjoyable. 0 A CAUTION: . . Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid levels and also the brakes, tires, cooling system and transaxle. These parts can work hard on mountain roads. Know how to go down hills. The most important thing toknow is this: let your engine do some of the slowing down. Shift toa lower gear when you go down a steep or long hill. 0 Coasting downhill in NEUTRAL (N) or with the ignition off is dangerous. Your brakes will have .to do all the work of slowing down. They could get so hot that they wouldn't workwell. You would then have poor braking or even none going down a hill. You could crash. Always have your enginerunning and your vehicle in gear when you go downhill. Know how to go uphill. Shift down to THIRD (3). This will help cool your engine and transaxle, and you can climb the hillbetter. Stay in your own lane when driving on two-lane roads in hills or mountains. Don't swing wide or cut across the center of the road. Drive at speeds that let you stay in your own lane. 9 As you go over the top of a hill, be alert. There could be something in your lane, like a stalled car or an accident. e You may see highway signs on mountains that warn of special problems. Examples are long grades, passing or no-passing zones, a falling rocks area or winding roads. Be alert to these and take appropriate action. If you don't shift down, your brakes couldget so hot that they wouldn't work well. You would then have poor braking or even none going down ahill. You could crash. Shift down to your engine let assist your brakes on a steep downhill slope. L 4-23