[Car Tips] How to safely drive on mountain roads and sharp bends

🏞 Editor's honest opinion: Hong Kong's mountain roads are winding and narrow, making them inherently uninviting.

Many mountain roads in Hong Kong are more dangerous than you might think. Characteristics include:

• Many sharp bends : for example, Fei Ngo Shan Road, Clear Water Bay Road, Tai Mo Shan Road, and Tong Fuk Road;
• Narrow road : It's a two-way road, but cars are actually fighting each other closely;
• Many blind turns : short sight lines and oncoming buses or motorcycles at any time;
• Large height difference : long slopes and sharp turns, making braking and control difficult;
• Wild animals and bicycles : monkeys, wild boars, and bicycle teams often appear.

Having driven the night shift on Clear Water Bay Road myself, I know firsthand that mishandling a sharp turn could endanger the safety of myself and the people in the car.

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🚗 Preparation before driving

1. Check vehicle status

• Braking system : including brake pads and brake fluid to ensure sufficient braking force;
• Tire condition : tread at least 3mm, and tire pressure adjusted according to the instructions;
• Lighting system : When driving on mountain roads at night, low beam, high beam and fog lights must function normally;
• Steering wheel clearance : avoid excessive play that affects cornering control.

2. Mental preparation

• Stay focused on the road and don't play with your phone while driving.
• Expect to encounter slower/larger vehicles. Be patient and avoid overtaking on impulse.

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🛑 Core skills for safely driving through sharp turns

1. Slow down before turning, don’t brake suddenly during the turn

• Principle: Slow down first, then turn, then accelerate
• If you brake when entering a sharp turn, the weight transfer will make the car unstable, making it easy to spin out or go off the line.
• Deceleration method:
  • Reduce the throttle in advance and use intermittent braking;
  • Use low waves to maintain a suitable speed for the turn.

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2. Choose a safe curved route

• The mountain roads in Hong Kong are narrow, so you can’t “cut apex” like a race car, you have to leave some space for defense;
• When encountering a blind curve with limited visibility, stay in the center of your lane or slightly to the right (for left turns) or left (for right turns) to avoid going out of bounds;
• Only when there is extra space at the exit of the curve can you accelerate more steadily.

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3. Use your eyes to see far away while scanning nearby

• Eye focus : Look towards the exit of the curve, not the roadside;
• At the same time, use your peripheral vision to scan for nearby hazards, such as potholes and falling rocks;
• On rainy days or at night, be especially careful of reflective covers and water accumulation on the shoulders of the road.

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4. Low wave control speed

• Use engine braking to help you slow down on tight downhill bends and avoid overheating the brakes;
• Automatic transmission vehicles can shift to 2nd gear or L gear in advance;
• Just like the "long downhill technique", low waves + intermittent braking are the most stable.

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5. Interact with special mountain road transportation

• Buses/Large Trucks : They require a larger turning radius when turning, so keep your distance and avoid crowding.
• Cyclists : Many mountain roads in Hong Kong are popular cycling routes. Please leave space before turning as visibility is poor.
• Wildlife : Herds of monkeys may suddenly rush out from Tai Mo Shan and Jin Shan areas and slow down to prepare to stop.

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6. Light and sound prompts

• Blind bend at night: flash high beam briefly to alert oncoming vehicles;
• Narrow blind bends during the day: you can lightly honk the horn to remind;
• Never use high beams for a long time and shine them directly into the eyes of oncoming vehicles, as this will blind them for a moment.

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7. Keep enough distance between vehicles

• On mountain roads, the vehicle ahead may suddenly slow down or avoid obstacles;
• I usually leave twice the distance between cars than on flat roads (at least 3-4 seconds).

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⚠️ Dangerous situations and solutions for sharp turns on mountain roads

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📍 Hong Kong real case sharing

• Fei Ngo Shan Road : Sharp and narrow, you may encounter cyclists. There are many blind turns, so honk your horn and slow down to 30–40 km/h.
• Clear Water Bay Road pothole : continuous S-bends + downhill. Use low-speed braking in rainy days to prevent drifting and brake overheating.
• Tai Mo Shan Road : There are large changes in altitude, so be sure to check your brakes before going downhill to avoid brake failure midway.
• Tong Fuk Road (Lantau Island) : The road is narrow. If you are approaching a bus, you should look for a shelter to cross first.

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💡 Editor's Tips

1. "3-second entrance method" : When you see the entrance to the curve, use 3 seconds to complete the deceleration and enter the curve;
2. Exit acceleration : Only when you can clearly see that the exit is clear, accelerate steadily.
3. "Left hand to the mountain, right hand to the sea" : When you are familiar with the road, stay close to the mountain wall on the inner bend and keep a safe distance on the outer bend to prevent falling.

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✅ Summary

There are three things you need to know to drive safely on Hong Kong's sharp curves:
"Slow down before a turn, hold steady mid-turn, and accelerate after it ." Combine this with low-speed control, keeping a safe distance, and keeping your eyes on the exit , and you'll be able to handle most mountain roads with confidence.