What should you do after stopping on an uphill grade before rejoining traffic?

When stopping on an uphill grade, holding the vehicle using the parking brakes until the clutch engages is crucial for maintaining control. This technique prevents the vehicle from rolling back and helps ensure that you are ready to accelerate smoothly once it's safe to rejoin traffic.

By using the parking brakes, you create a secure hold on the vehicle, allowing you to focus on observing your surroundings and preparing to enter the flow of traffic without the additional worry of vehicle movement. Once the engine is running and you engage the clutch, you can smoothly transition from a stationary position to driving forward, which is particularly important when starting on an incline.

The other options lack the critical component of safety and control needed in this situation. For instance, shifting into neutral and resuming once traffic is clear can lead to a loss of control on a slope. Releasing the parking brake and accelerating immediately might cause the vehicle to roll backward before you have a chance to regain control. Turning off the engine and waiting for assistance does not address the need to rejoin traffic safely and expediently.