San Francisco is famous for its hills, and they are one of the biggest adjustments for new drivers and people moving here from flatter cities. With good technique, steep streets become routine.
Starting on a Hill
In an automatic car, keep your foot firmly on the brake while stopped. When it is your turn, move your foot smoothly to the accelerator and give a little more gas than you would on flat ground so the car does not roll back. If the car has hill-start assist, it holds the brake for a moment, but you should still move your foot without hesitating.
Leave Extra Space
When you stop behind another car on an uphill street, leave enough room to see the rear tires of the vehicle ahead. Some cars roll back slightly before moving forward, and the extra space protects you.
Curb Your Wheels Every Time
California law requires you to turn your wheels when parking on a grade, and San Francisco enforces it. The rule is easy to remember:
- Downhill: turn your front wheels toward the curb.
- Uphill with a curb: turn your front wheels away from the curb and let the tire rest gently against it.
- Uphill with no curb: turn your wheels toward the edge of the road.
Always set the parking brake as well. Curbing your wheels means that if the brake fails, the car rolls into the curb instead of into traffic.
Parallel Parking on a Slope
Go slowly and use the brake to control your speed as you back in. On a downhill slope, gravity does much of the work, so you will need very little gas. Practice in quiet neighborhoods before trying busy streets.
Watch Out for Crests
At the top of a steep hill you often cannot see the road on the other side. Slow down, stay in your lane, and be ready for pedestrians, cyclists, or stopped cars just past the crest.
Book a Lesson With Bill C
Bill C Licensed Driving Instructor has helped drivers in San Francisco and the surrounding areas since 2016. Lessons are private and available 7 days a week, 8 AM to 8 PM. Call (415) 812-0798 to schedule.