Free Wheeling - Beware!!

The term "Free-wheeling" describes a vehicle traveling in neutral or with the clutch depressed.
Many drivers use freewheeling in a effort to save fuel and is common practice with many truck drivers.

By putting the vehicle in neutral and allowing it to free wheel down a hill, can cause problems when it’s time to re-engage the gear. For example, when the gear is forced in, it can damage the transmission or result in locking the wheels and causing the vehicle to skid out of control.
Freewheeling vehicles rely on the brakes to slow them down resulting in overheating the brakes, and boiled brake fluids. Therefore when heavy braking is needed, brakes will tend to fade, and give a "long pedal" causing inefficient and longer stopping distances.

Many drivers will also push the clutch in conjunction with the brake during an emergency stop. By doing this they disengaging the engine from the drive train causing a loss in engine braking efficiency.

In addition, coasting down hills compromises engine compression braking, and descending steep or slippery hills should be negotiated with the use of engine and foot brake balanced so as not to over work each system.