Slope

Stop on the incline, hold with the handbrake, and move off without rolling back.

Station 12Free preview

What it is

A two-lane ramp marked 12 at both ends, next to parallel-parking stations 41–43. You drive up, stop just before the yellow line on the incline, secure the car, then move off over the top.

Where it is

Slope · Station 12

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The highlighted area is where this station is. Zoom in to read the station numbers.Map: source

Step by step

1
Pick the side that matches where you came from. Turning in from the right means the right lane, and vice versa.
2
Wait at the bottom until both cars on the slope, going up and coming down, have moved off. Don't move into the yellow-lined zone while another car is on the slope.
3
Drive up and stop just before the yellow line. Don't stop on or over it.
4
Keeping your foot on the brake, pull the handbrake, then select P, and wait a moment.
5
Signal away from the kerb: on the right lane, signal left; on the left lane, signal right. The signal only warns others that you're moving off. You're not changing lanes, so stay in your lane and drive straight up.
6
Do a full 360° check before moving off: mirrors and both blind spots.
7
Foot on the brake, select D. Move to the throttle and hold about 1,500–2,000 rpm, then release the handbrake gradually. Once the car moves, release it fully, and keep the throttle steady until you're over the top.
8
Over the top, switch straight to the brake. Brake gently on the way down and stop fully before the white stop line at the bottom.
9
Check both ways, then follow the tester's direction. If they say nothing, go left.

Sighting points

Starting points from learners who passed. Your car, height and seat position shift them, so practise the corrections, not just the marks.

From your seat, the yellow line should look like it's just under your side mirror. If it looks lower, you've gone over it.
To turn right from the left lane, signal and cross on the flat top (plateau), never on the incline itself.

Mistakes & corrections

Rolling back less than 1 m costs 2 points (up to 3 times); 1 m or more is an IF, and so is failing to move off after 5 attempts. So stop a roll-back at once rather than trying to drive out of it.

The car rolls back as you release the handbrake.
Why
Not enough throttle.
Fix
Pull the handbrake straight back up. Hold about 1,500–2,000 rpm, then release it gradually again.
The car doesn't move when you release the handbrake.
Why
Not enough throttle to pull the car up the slope.
Fix
Keep the handbrake partly up, add a little more throttle, and release slowly. Each failed try counts towards the 5.
The car surges over the top.
Why
Too much throttle, held too long.
Fix
Move your foot to the brake as soon as you're over the top. Brake gently and stop before the white line at the bottom.

What the tester marks

This station's part of the assessment checklist, with the same item numbers. Tick it as you practise.

Points beside the box Free Immediate FailureTap to tick.

Slope / gradient

(a) Less than 1 metre(b) 1 metre or more

12.Roll backwards
2
13.Unable to move off after 5 attempts

Moving

23.Fail to release handbrake
2

Junction

55.Fail to stop at stop-lineThe white stop line at the bottom of the slope

Safety check

58.Fail to check blind spotBefore moving off from the slope
4

0 demerit points0 immediate failuresPass

Tips

The handbrake is your friend: there's no prize for holding the car on the foot brake.
Moving up while another car is still on the slope is reported as an IF. When in doubt, wait.
Testers often pair the slope with parallel parking at 41–43. The kerb on the slope side is very wide, so take care leaving one for the other.

Common mistakes

Releasing the handbrake before there's enough throttle, so the car rolls back.
Changing lanes on the incline instead of on the plateau.
Rolling down and through the white stop line at the bottom. It's a stop line like any other.
A lazy blind-spot check before moving off: the tester has to see your head turn.