Emergency Situations

On a long, steep downgrade, the safest way to control speed is to:

British Columbia road sign — Shift to a lower gear to use engine braking
Show Answer & Explanation
Correct Answer: B. Shift to a lower gear to use engine braking

Continuous brake use on long downgrades overheats the brakes and causes brake fade. A lower gear lets the engine itself slow the vehicle, keeping the brakes cool for emergencies.