Before descending a steep hill, what should you do?
- Select an appropriate lower gear before beginning the descent. ✓
- Wait until the vehicle gains speed before downshifting.
- Shift into neutral.
- Rely mainly on continuous service-brake application.
Answer: A. Select an appropriate lower gear before beginning the descent.
Before you start down a steep hill, select an appropriate lower gear for the descent.
Why this is the answer
The handbook says you need a lower gear for the descent than for the climb, and it warns that you must avoid overdriving your brakes. It also says to pick a safe speed for the vehicle's weight, length, steepness, weather, and road conditions, then use an appropriate low gear and the retarding device to hold that speed. With that setup, you should be able to go down the hill without using the service brakes. This supports choosing the lower gear before the descent begins.
Why the other answers are wrong
- B. Wait until the vehicle gains speed before downshifting. — Waiting until the vehicle gains speed before downshifting goes against the handbook's direction to control your speed all the way down and use a low gear to hold it.
- C. Shift into neutral. — The passages tell you to use a low gear and retarding device to hold a safe speed, not to shift into neutral.
- D. Rely mainly on continuous service-brake application. — The handbook says that with a safe speed, the right low gear, and the retarding device, you should descend without using the service brakes, so continuous brake application is not the method given.
Remember it
Think gear first, brakes last: set the low gear at the top and let it and the retarder hold your speed.
Official handbook: ICBC Driving Commercial Vehicles, 2 Heavy vehicle braking – Braking, p. 24