Do you hear the word
Hill Starts and Panic?

Well, there's no need to.

Everything related to driving takes time and practice and Hill Starts are no different.

All it needs initially is a relatively quiet road to start with so there's not much pressure on you so that you can truly understand what process you are using to control the car and then with lots of practice you can be an expert at it in a very short space of time.

The incline you find to start learning needn't be steep, let it be just enough that when you come to a stop, if you took your foot off the foot brake the car would roll backwards slowly.

Once you're there, come to a stop engage the hand brake and then just relax for a few seconds.
Try and imagine what you want to achieve with the car in your head.

You already know how to move off and stop safely, this is no different other than should you remove the hand brake too soon the car will begin to roll backwards.



So lets try and make this simple by taking it in stages.

1. Have the engine running.

2. Select 1st gear (going uphill, no other gear will suffice)

3. Set the gas (bring up the revs by maybe 500rpm more than tick over)

4. Raise the clutch to the biting point and no further.

5. Observe all around you.

6. Engage a direction signal if required.

7. At this point lower the handbrake.

If you have the true biting point the car WILL NOT move forwards or roll backwards. It should remain stationery.

8. Now gently raise the clutch about 3-4mm and hold it at that point.

9. The car will now begin to creep forwards.

10. Begin to add more gas as you are slowly coming off the remainder of the travel of the clutch pedal.

11. Because you are on an incline you'll want to bring the speed of the car slightly higher than you normally would before changing into 2nd gear.
This is because the second you put your clutch down on a upward hill the car will begin to slow down again.
The steeper the hill the quicker the car will slow down.

12. Once you have sufficient speed to not affect the car by changing into 2nd gear then change it.

REASONS WHY THINGS GO WRONG WHEN TRYING TO DO A HILL START.
1. YOU PANICKED!

2. You were more concerned about the car behind you. (you panic)

3. You raised the clutch too quickly. (car stalls)

4. You found the biting point, but as you were trying to release the hand brake you also came up with the clutch before the hand brake was fully released. (car stalls)

5. You didn't set the gas to help with the incline. (the car struggles to move off)

6. You still had your right foot on the footbrake. (car stalls)

7. Your seating position may be wrong and giving you trouble easing off the clutch properly. (change your seating position and try again)

8. You were in the wrong gear. (car stalls)



So in conclusion, if you are having trouble with hills, don't just give up.

Take your time to try again and again and again but each time try and work out what you may be doing that is leading to the problem.
Try something different next time, just try and remain relaxed and think of the process required to get a smooth move off.