Hill Start
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Uphill
You will be asked to move away uphill on your driving test - commonly known as a "hill start".
Practice on a quiet hill.
The basics of the manoeuvre as the same as the normal move away. The difference with the hill start is in the clutch control. You will find that when you release the hand brake, if the clutch isn't raised enough, the car will roll back with the obvious danger of hitting anything behind.
To avoid rolling back, go through the move away manoeuvre as normal but, when you find your clutch biting point, raise the clutch a little more than normal - you'll feel the back of the car 'sit' down a little. Exactly how much more than normal you raise the clutch depends on the steepness of the hill.
Practice moving away on lots of different hills so you begin to get a feel of what is required.
If, when you release the handbrake, the car starts to roll back, there are two things you can do.
Either:
1) If the car is only rolling very slightly, slowly and gently, simply raise the clutch very slightly to catch it.
2) If the car is in danger of a considerable roll, quickly put your foot on the footbrake and press the clutch right down. Now pull on the handbrake and start the manoeuvre again.
Whatever happens, if the car rolls back, don't suddenly lift the clutch right off. If you do the car may lurch forward and stall or, worse still, hit something in front of you.
Downhill
You may have to start downhill several times on your test - for example at junctions or when pulling away from one of the manoeuvres.
Practice on a quiet hill.
Go through the move away routine as normal except when you're ready to press the gas pedal - don't! Press the brake pedal firmly with your right foot and keep pressing the clutch pedal to the floor.
When you have checked it is clear, release the handbrake and the footbrake and, because you are facing downhill, the car will begin to roll off. Gently raise the clutch pedal right up and you are away.
