On a one-lane mountain road when two vehicles meet on a steep road where neither can pass, which vehicle should back up?

• A. The uphill vehicle
• B. The vehicle with the larger engine
• C. The downhill-facing vehicle
• D. Either vehicle may back up

Answer: (C)

On a narrow one‑lane mountain road, the vehicle that is facing downhill should back up. The key safety idea is about which direction you can control best and where you have the clearest view. Backing down a slope is generally easier to manage with good braking and steering visibility, and it lets the driver move toward the safer shoulder or turnout while staying near the edge where there’s room to maneuver. Backing uphill, by contrast, is harder to control on a steep grade and increases the risk of losing traction or rolling back toward the drop if brakes or control are compromised. So the downhill-facing driver backs up to create the safest clearance for the other vehicle to pass or to turn around.