What does the steep hill sign mean?

This sign is posted at the top of a long descent. What is the safest way down?

Choose a lower gear before you start down and let the engine hold your speed

Brakes used continuously on a long hill get hot and lose their bite, and the driver who needs them most is the one at the bottom. A lower gear does most of the work for you and leaves the brakes cool for the moment something goes wrong.

This sign is posted at the top of a long descent. What is the better way to control your speed on the way down?

Shift to a lower gear and let the engine hold the speed, braking firmly and briefly when you need to

Brakes fade when they are held on through a long descent, and the fade arrives without warning near the bottom, where you need them most. A lower gear does most of the work and leaves the brakes fresh for the moments that actually call for them.

This sign appears at the top of a long descent. What is the safest way down?

Shift to a lower gear and use the brakes in firm, short applications

Constant braking on a long hill heats the brakes until they fade, and you find that out at the point where they are the only thing holding you. A lower gear lets the engine do most of the work and keeps the brakes fresh for when you actually need them. Coasting in neutral throws that help away and leaves speed as the only thing you control.

This sign faces you at the top of a long descent while you are driving a loaded vehicle. What is the right technique?

Choose a lower gear before you start down, and use the brakes in firm short applications

Brakes fade when they get hot, and holding a heavy vehicle back with constant light pressure is exactly how they overheat. A lower gear lets the engine do most of the holding, which leaves the brakes for short firm applications that let them cool in between. Coasting in neutral removes the engine from the job altogether and is the worst of the four.

You meet this sign on a loaded bike with a passenger on the back. What does the grade ahead change for you?

The load keeps pushing you along, so gear down early and use both brakes gently rather than late and hard

On a downgrade your weight has already shifted onto the front wheel and the load behind keeps shoving you forward. Choosing a low gear at the top lets the engine hold most of the speed, so the brakes stay cool and the front tire keeps working inside its grip instead of being asked for everything at the bottom.

You meet this sign at the top of a long mountain descent on a fully loaded motorcycle.

Change down before the descent so the engine holds the speed, and use both brakes in firm short applications

Brakes that are dragged for a long descent get hot and fade, and a motorcycle carries far less brake than a car does. A lower gear lets the engine take most of the work, so the brakes are only asked for short firm bursts that let them cool between. Coasting in neutral throws that help away and leaves the brakes doing everything.