Weight of Vehicle

Gravity affects a vehicle's handling by pulling it down. When the weight of a vehicle is increased the friction force is also increased. This same weight must also be accelerated or slowed whenever you meneuver. If you are traveling up a hill, gravity is trying to pull against your car. This causes you to slow down.

When you're going downhill, gravity pulls your car down, speeding you up. When driving down a hill shift to a lower gear to reduce speed. This will help prevent brake overheating, especially for heavier vehicles such as trucks. The heavier your vehicle, the more distance it takes to stop. If you double the weight of your vehicle, it takes twice as long to stop.