Curvy roads in the mountains are treacherous. The risk of an accident increases if the weather is bad because your truck could skid or roll.
Most drivers find driving on mountain roads challenging. That’s because these roads have quick, steep climbs and descents, long S curves, and steep hairpin corners. What’s more, the winding roads could be on ledges, gorges, or near a cliff.
To make mountain road driving safer, drivers need to be prepared. They also need a refresher on safety measures. You can never be too careful, even if you know your way up or down.
Mountain roads are curved because it’s easier to maintain traction when the road isn’t steep, and the amount of power and gas needed is reduced. Most mountains have natural paths through which civil engineers can build roads, making it easier for civil engineers to build roads on mountain contours instead of drilling rocks to make a straight road.
Curvy roads also mitigate against accidents during bad weather; ice and snow make roads slippery, making it hard to control vehicles on a steep trail.
This article gives you tips on how to drive on mountain roads and expounds on how curves are mapped when building mountain roads.
How are curve positions determined when building mountain roads?
The first step in designing mountain roads is surveying. When surveying, the plan is to avoid the highest mountain points and wind around the mountain. Engineers map and construct mountain roads after surveyors have determined the best path.
There is a chance that natural landslides and mudslides could happen during or after construction. Winding roads mitigate against these. Mudslides could result from drilling or blasting, and rocks could fall on laborers.
The risks of constructing mountain roads are high, but when engineers use heavy machinery and the right tools, construction risks are much lower.
Mallorca Winding Road
Engineers build mountain roads downhill or in valleys, moving upwards. Not the other way round.
The natural contours determine where a curve will be. Roads wear out faster when water flows over them, which engineers keep in mind when building roads and deciding where to put curves. How steep a mountain is also determines the path and turn of a road.
Professors tell an engineering old-school tale of how prospectors used ancient wisdom to map out mountain roads and curves. It explains how they used donkeys and mules to construct mountain roads.
As a donkey had an instinct to follow a path with an incline similar to the maximum safe grade for a road’s way (8 to 10 percent), prospectors would follow the donkey’s path to help them set up stakes. Next, they would measure their placement on the ground and use the measurements and map coordinates to begin drawing the road profile.
Mountain road curves were determined by turning the donkey around if they felt it had strayed too far from the intended path or encountered a stumbling block. A hairpin turn would be where the donkey changed directions and moved further up in the opposite direction.
General tips for driving mountain roads like a pro
While it may sound fun to go around the mountain, steep ascents and descents can put additional stress on your car’s engine and brakes.
Here are some tips and precautions to better equip you to navigate mountain roads easily.
1. Verify that your vehicle is in good working condition
Check your fluids, your battery, heating and cooling systems, and your exhaust system as well.
Make sure your tires are okay and that you have a spare part handy in case something goes wrong.
2. Slow down on hairpin corners
You never know what you’ll find at the hairpin corner. It’s always a good idea to slow down as you approach each turn. Never be overconfident that you know your way.
When taking a turn, it’s a good idea to shift the jake into second gear rather than have it a high gear.
3. Have enough fuel
Fill your tank. The fuel needed when going uphill is much more than the usual fuel on a flat road for a similar distance.
4. Tell a friend and be ready for emergencies
Inform a friend or relative you are heading out, and be sure to carry emergency kits, extra food, blankets, and clothing in case there is an emergency.
5. Stay alert and keep your eyes on the road
Don’t get distracted. If you need to enjoy the scenery, pull over at a stopping point and take in the sights. Otherwise, doing so while driving can lead to accidents.
6. Use your headlights to see and to be seen
Mountain weather is unpredictable. Your headlights will help you see through the fog, mist, rain, dark, dawn, and it will help you be seen more easily by other drivers.
7. Pay attention to road signs
Read and obey all road signs. The road grade and speed signs should keep you in control.
You cannot accurately judge a grade by looking on your way down. Check the grade signs and creep down. The grade signs should help you determine your speed.
Tips when heading downhill on a mountain road
Maintain your speed using your low gears
Using your gearbox to control speed avoids burning your breaks and makes for a much more pleasant drive.
Usually, your 2nd and 3rd gear will be perfect for going downhill. Keep in mind that not all gearboxes are the same. Some gearboxes have the 2nd gear longer than others (same with all gears).
This will determine which one suits the slope grade; in general, you want to keep your vehicle going at (max) the speed limit without having to press the breaks.
Use your brakes sparingly
Continuous braking when descending steep grades can quickly burn your brakes. You should tap the brakes pedals lightly and rapidly, not overwork and overheat them.
Keep an eye on speed signs and prepare for steep, hairpin curves by braking before taking the turn.
You have more control and can coast more smoothly around winding roads if you brake before you hit a curve.
Should your brakes overheat (you will know if there is a pungent smell), pull over immediately. Let them cool down before restarting your vehicle.
Tips when going uphill
Your truck or car is likely to overheat when ascending a hill. Should this happen, use pullovers or stop points to cool your engine. Where these are not available, stop at a point where oncoming vehicles can see you.
Keep your engine cool
- Turn off your AC and lower your windows. Having the air conditioning on may cause your engine to overheat.
- Maintain the same speed up and use a lower gear if your vehicle has difficulty ascending.
- After getting to the summit, let your car cool down by having your engine idle for a short time.
- If you cannot instantly pull over, put on your car’s heater to its maximum setting—just like you would on a chilly morning, for the engine to ooze off some heat. Jalopnik claims that this can help.
- Turn on your engine fan and be easy on your vehicle. Also, keep checking the temperature gauge.
Do not trail other motorists on a grade
Always keep a safe distance between you and the car ahead to allow for mishap adjustments. That way, should the driver, before you could lose control, hit the brakes or jackknife, you have enough room to slow down.
The rule of the thumb on the road is you are the only sane driver. Not all drivers will follow the safety measures. Tailgating, overlapping, and overspeeding are leading causes of accidents on curvy roads.
Bonus tips
- Before you begin the ascent, use the diffs to improve traction. The slope will be easier to climb if you use all four of your vehicle’s drive wheels.
- Where the signs say chain up, chain up. Chain up at the bottom before ascending. That’s important.
- Stay away from icy hills and let the sanders work on them. Climbing an icy hill is not a good idea. You can go up after the sanders afterward.
What to do if your vehicle skids on a curvy mountain road
If your wheels skid and you lose control, the most crucial thing to remember is not to panic. Then disengage your feet from the brakes and accelerator but keep your hands loosely on the steering.
Be calm and avoid sudden jerk movements (oversteering). When a car is skidding, the accelerator, brakes, and steering wheel will not work as they should.
Once the car has slowed down, you can regain control by slowly applying the brakes and steering right.
You may also like: Top 7 Scariest Mountain Roads in California
Conclusion
Mountain roads are curvy to avoid natural disasters like mudslides and landslides. People who drive heavyweight vehicles find it easier to go up and down winding roads because the power and gas they need isn’t too much.
Additionally, curvy roads avoid accidents that would happen if the road was slippery on a steep, straight road. It is also simpler and more cost-effective to build roads that follow the natural contours of a mountain or hill.
Motorists driving on curvy mountain roads should drive at a slow, steady pace, read and obey the road signs, and keep their engines cool. These are the main things to keep in mind.
