On a winding NH mountain road (e.g., in the White Mountains), when descending a steep grade, you should:
Shift to neutral and coast.
Coasting in neutral reduces control and is illegal in many states.
Downshift to a lower gear to let engine braking control speed.
Apply the brakes continuously.
Continuous braking overheats brakes, risking failure.
Increase speed to build momentum.
Building speed on a descent is extremely dangerous.
On a steep descent, use engine braking by shifting to a lower gear (manual or low-range automatic). This slows the vehicle without using the friction brakes, which can overheat and fail ("brake fade") on long descents. Save brakes for emergencies or additional slowing. Runaway-truck ramps are spaced along NH mountain roads for vehicles that lose braking.
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