1993 Pontiac Bonneville Owner's Manual - Page 177

Your Driving and the Road Hi// and Mountain Roads Driving on steep hills or mountains is different from driving in flat or rolling terrain. If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you're planning to visit there, here are some tips that can make your trips safer and more enjoyable. Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid levels andalso the I CAUTION brakes, tires, cooling system and transaxle. These parts can work hard on mountain roads. Know how to go down hills. The most important thing to know is this: let your enginedo some of the slowing down. Don't make your brakes do it all. Shift to a lower gear when you go down a steep or long hill. That way, you will slow down without excessive use of your brakes. I If you don't shift down, your brakes could getso hot that they wouldn't work well. You would then have poor braking or even none going down a hill. You could crash. Shift down to let your engine assist your brakes ona steep downhill slope. , Know how to go uphill. Shift down to D (Drive). This will help cool your engine and transaxle, andyou can climbthe hill better. 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. That way, you won't be surprised by a vehicle coming toward you in the same lane. It takes longer to pass another vehicle when you're going uphill. You'll want to leave extra room to pass.If a vehicle is passing you and doesn't have enough room, slow down to make it easier for the other vehicle to getby. 176