Why Mountain Driving Is Different
Mountain roads require engine braking, low-gear control, and attention to altitude. Steep descents can overheat brakes, while thin air can reduce engine power. Check the status and forecast before routes such as the Stelvio, Trollstigen, or Furka.
Engine Braking and Low Gears
Don’t ride the brakes: On long descents, constant braking heats the pads and fluid. Brakes can fade or fail. Use engine braking instead: select a low gear (second or third) and let the engine hold your speed. Touch the brakes only when you need to slow further.
Choose gear before the descent: Shift down at the top of the pass, not halfway down when you’re already going too fast. In a manual transmission, match revs when downshifting to avoid jerking.
Automatics: Use manual mode or L/2 if available. If not, shift to a lower range before descending.
Hairpin Bends and Narrow Roads
Slow before the bend: Enter hairpins at a speed you can maintain through the turn. Braking mid-bend can cause understeer or loss of traction.
Use the full width: On single-lane sections, use pullouts to let faster traffic pass. Don’t block the road.
Honk on blind corners: In the Alps and other mountain regions, a short honk before a blind curve warns oncoming traffic. It’s customary and appreciated.
Passing Etiquette on Narrow Roads
Read the local priority rule: Some mountain roads give practical priority to uphill traffic, while signs or the road geometry may assign a different order. Use a passing place early and never force a meeting on a blind section.
Use pullouts: Designated passing bays are there for a reason. Don’t force a pass on a narrow section.
Buses and trucks: They need more space. Give way and wait for a safe spot.
Altitude Effects on Your Car
Reduced power: Higher altitude can reduce engine performance, especially on a loaded or naturally aspirated vehicle. Allow more time for climbs and do not begin an overtake that needs power you may not have.
Coolant and fluids: Check levels before a long climb. Thin air affects cooling efficiency.
Fuel: Confirm the grade printed on the fuel flap or handover sheet. Plan fuel stops before a long climb and do not substitute a lower grade without the vehicle maker’s instruction.
Famous Passes: What to Expect
Stelvio Pass (Italy): a high, winding seasonal road. Check the current opening and vehicle restrictions; the number of bends does not predict the time needed.
Trollstigen (Norway): a narrow seasonal route that can close for weather or rockfall. Check the road authority before committing a rental vehicle.
Furka Pass (Switzerland): a high seasonal route with exposed bends. Check the road status, vehicle class and vignette requirements before access.
Many passes close in winter. Check status before you go.
Use the road authority’s status and weather at the pass, not a city forecast. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Practice fitting chains before a signed control point or storm. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
A warning sign is a speed and passing decision, not decoration. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Winter: Chains and Snow
Chain requirements: In the Alps and other mountain regions, snow chains are mandatory when signs indicate. Fines for non-compliance are steep. Rental cars may include chains: confirm at pickup.
All-season vs winter tires: In winter, winter tires are often required. All-season tires may not satisfy legal requirements on mountain roads.
Know your limits: If conditions are bad, consider postponing or taking a train through the pass. No view is worth the risk.
Pre-departure check
- Confirm the pass is open through the road authority instead of relying on a city forecast.
- Keep a fallback route; a tunnel or lower road may stay open while a high pass closes, but it may add traffic or a separate toll.
- Practise fitting the supplied chains in a safe place before a control point or storm.
Sources and review date
This tip was reviewed on August 17, 2026. Mountain access, chain controls and vehicle restrictions can change within a day; check the road authority, rental contract and forecast immediately before departure.