What should you do before driving downhill to ensure safety?

Downshifting the transmission before driving downhill is an important safety measure that helps maintain control of the vehicle. By shifting to a lower gear, you utilize engine braking, which reduces the reliance on the brakes alone. This is particularly crucial when descending steep grades because continuous braking can lead to brake overheating and diminished effectiveness, possibly resulting in brake failure. Downshifting allows the engine to help slow the vehicle, providing a more controlled descent and enhancing overall stability.

Revving the engine, activating cruise control, or engaging hazard lights would not provide the same level of control or safety when going downhill. Revving the engine could increase speed, and using cruise control could lead to accelerating uncontrollably if the road angles down sharply. Engaging hazard lights does not assist in vehicle control and is typically used to signal that there is a problem or for visibility, rather than for safe navigation downhill.