Ch. 6 · Hazardous Areas

On a downhill slope, it is best to use the foot brake primarily and apply engine braking as a supplement when necessary.

[True / False · Medium]

Answer: ✕ False

Explanation

The Rules of the Road (4) states: "Use a low gear and utilize engine braking. On a long downhill slope, using the foot brake too frequently can cause the brakes to suddenly fail, which is dangerous." Engine braking should be used primarily.

Driving school curriculumStage 2 – Topic 6: Natural forces acting on vehicles

Hikari
Hikari
Downhill means lots of foot brake, with a little engine braking if needed, right?
Misaki
Misaki
No, it's the opposite. Use a low gear and rely on engine braking primarily — overusing the foot brake on a long downhill can cause brake fade and sudden failure. This statement is false.
Hikari
Hikari
Wait, the brakes can just stop working?
Misaki
Misaki
Yes, from overheating. Let the engine do the work downhill, and save the foot brake for when you really need it.

Source: Ch. 6 Hazardous Areas · Section (第２節 坂道・カーブ) · １ 坂道・山道 (４)

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Source content excerpted from the NPA “Rules of the Road” instructional manual, in the public domain under Japanese Copyright Act Article 13(2). Explanations are AI-assisted and copyrighted by the MenkyoQuest editorial team.