27/07/2026
A quick tip for driving our local hills in an automatic car 🏔️
If you live around Littleborough, Whitworth, or Milnrow, you already know that our roads are anything but flat! When people switch from a manual car to an automatic, they usually love how easy it is. You just put it in 'D' for Drive and off you go. But when you are heading down a long, steep hill—like coming down from Whitworth or Wardle—there is a common habit that can really wear down your car.
Because you don't have gears to slow you down, it is very easy to find yourself "riding the brake" all the way to the bottom. Doing this heats up your brakes, wears out your pads much faster, and doesn't give you the best control.
Next time you are heading down a steep hill, take a quick look at your gear selector. Almost every automatic has extra options below 'D'—usually marked as 'B', 'S', or even 'L'. Popping the car into that setting while going downhill is a game-changer. It gently uses the car's own engine or electric battery to hold your speed back naturally. You will find the car controls itself beautifully down the hill without you having to constantly press the brake pedal. Plus, if you drive a hybrid, it actually recharges your battery for free on the way down!
When I first started helping local learners pass their tests back in 2009, my goal was always to teach people how to actually manage our unique valley roads, not just pass a test. Even though I’m currently prepping for our big automatic relaunch next summer, the hills around Rochdale haven't changed!
Hope this helps anyone tracking the hills this week!
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