Test This Week Advice Needed

IgsTer

As title suggests im doing my driving test this week and would like to get a few final things cleared up first. I think im ok when it comes to most aspects of driving but when it comes to me stopping i seem to always clutch in 25-30 meters from the stop sign or traffic light etc. still travelling at 20-40kph id say and change down to first while using the brake to slow down I dont release the clutch back out till im about to move off again obviously if im going to be waiting a while i would pull up the handbrake and put it in neutral then. Just wondering is this ok or would it count as grade 1 or 2 fault changing gear to first while slowing down? should i wait till im at a complete stop to change to first?

Also any general advice on the test would be appreciated

Cheers

ADIDriving

Way too early to put the clutch down. If your speed is 20 / 40 kmh, you are in third gear, brake and do not touch the clutch until you are 5 / 10 metres from stopping, change into first after stopping.

Alanstrainor

+1 on what ADIDriving said.

Do not put the car into first until you are ready to move off again.

You should be able to slow down to 10km/h or so in 3rd/4th gear without the car stalling, so there's no real worry about that. Just clutch in just before you stop.

IgsTer

Cheers for the quick and clear answer had a feeling it wasnt what i should be doing but just got in the habit of doing it. Yeah I do be in 3rd/4th while doing this. If i leave it until the engine starts to shudder is that considered too late resulting in a fault in the test?

If im stopped at a traffic light im guessing i should put it into neutral and not keep my clutch pressed in and in first gear then?

starlit

My guess you should be travelling between 30 km/h or less than 20 km/h by the time you are coming up to the stop sign/line and traffic lights. Best to slow down completely gently braking braking braking continuously as much as possible until you reach where you stop.

To be honest 20-30 metres from a stop sign is a bit far away from where you are to stop. I still make that mistake the odd time, being too far from the line I'd stop at the sign but not at the line. I often have to edge forward sometimes.

The trick is to stop at the line completely so that you can get to a point where you can see both sides, if visibility and observation is limited you may need to edge forward a bit. Where you stop is vital for observation and viability purpose. Stop at the line/sign if you don't it be a grade 3 fault if you don't stop completely! Count 3 seconds if clear and a safe gap to go, go then. Get back into 1st gear before moving off. Go slow, slow as possible before you think its shuddering. If the car starts shuddering you need to be in a lower gear even if it means stopping in 1st gear if the car is going so slow under 10 km/h aprox. Generally you stop in 2nd gear.

You are clutching in too soon. It was one habit I had but I seem to be getting over it I hope. Best to get down to 2nd gear when slowing down at aprox 20-29 km/h. You clutch in just as you are about to roll to a stop. You really only use the clutch to change gears and just before coming to a stop. Otherwise you be coasting.

You probably slow down a bit first then get into 2nd gear keep braking making sure you are at the correct speed for the situation and slowing down gradually and pressing the brake gently and gradually but continuously before coming to a stop. Then clutch in to stop completely (clutch and brake together) You'll have already started to brake, you brake first then clutch and brake. Try not to stay too long on the clutch either that will lead to coasting that might be a grade 2 fault!

Ya if you in traffic/at lights you have stopped, if you are stopped a while best to get car into neutral and pull up your handbrake. Get ready to go though once lights are ready to go. Be sure to get into 1st gear before moving off and don't forget to release the handbrake! For Stopping generally its handbrake neutral...you can do it either way if its just parking. The general rule is handbrake neutral.

You change to 2nd when slowing down or you can stay on 3rd gear, change from 4th to 2nd or 3rd to 2nd what ever stage you are in when approaching before you stop. Generally you take a turn on 2nd gear and stop in 2nd gear but if the car starts shuddering before you come to a stop get into 1st gear otherwise the car might stall if you don't get to the line/sign/lights on time.

Once you have come to a complete stop you can get back into 1st gear and move off once clear.

Have you done pre-test lessons? Maybe do a mock test before you do your driving test might give an idea as to what areas you might need to work on and give you an insight where your driving test standard is.

It could be considered a fault under not using vehicle controls properly. If not changing your gears down appropriately to suit the situation especially when slowing down. I don't know if you be faulted for shuddering the car but its how you handle the controls if you aren't seen as having proper control of the gears and the pedals could be a fault not for the actual shuddering I think. The most you get is a grade 2 fault. If you jerk could be a fault too not sure if that be a grade 2 or 3 fault though. For me I have gotten the most grade faults for the gears and the pedals (not proper use of vehicle controls such as revving, stalling, clutching in too soon, not using the appropriate gear and coasting, all adds up when it comes to faults) I got about 11 faults alone on those two areas of the gears and vehicle controls (pedals) in one pre-test lesson. So its something to watch out for.

For you its probably something similar. Positing the car incorrectly be a grade 2 fault, if its dangerous and likely you are causing an obstruction you could get a grade 3 fault. If you mount or hit kerb/footpath its an instant fail. You get a grade 2 fault for turning too tight or too wide. You get a fault begin too close to parked cars.
Position the car left of centre before taking a right turn, be close as possible to the left when taking a left turn. If taking a right turn generally its at a 90 degree angle.

Three main manoeuvres you be asked is the turnabout, hill start and the reverse. You be asked to park too.

Have you gone on the test routes for practise with your instructor? Google map might be helpful in case there be any narrow streets, sharp corners or bends to be aware of or any areas that might cause a reduction in observation and viability when at a junction and when taking a turn.

If anyone thinks I am incorrect in anything I have said please feel free to correct me.

One tip, know the rules of the road you be asked oral questions on this and technical questions on the car like secondary controls etc.

The 'Get It' book is very good to read when preparing for the test. Maybe have a look at youtube video tutorials that might help you with anything you need to be clear on. Keep practising, practise makes perfect. Be sure to be safe too. Happy and safe motoring!

Best of luck with the Driving OP and good luck on your test! Let us know how you get on!

IgsTer

Cheers for all that advice doovdela its cleared alot of things up for me i wasnt too sure on.

About the stopping in 3rd and moving from 4th to 3rd/2nd that was something I never usually do i usally just stop in what ever gear i was in which was usally 4th so ill start gearing down when i know im going to be stopping.

I was planning on doing one pre-test before my test but time has gotten ahead of me and with work I dont know if i would have time now to take one before my test. I really was just going to take one for them to spot out my bad habits such as the ones i mentioned above. Now that i know the correct way to do things i dont think it will be as needed as much.

Im probably going to spend most of my thursday afternoon just driving around the area i will be taking my test in just to know what to expect maybe trying out a few of the manuvers as well.

Yeah have read the rules of the road and watched the ISM passing the driving test DVD a few times so i know what to expect on the day.

Just with the technical checks i know how to check the oil/washer etc but the power steering, brake fluid and coolant im not sure my car actually has measures on these so im not sure how i could check them if asked only know where they are.

Thanks again for all the info its a great help ill let ya's know how i got on.

Alanstrainor

IgsTer wrote: »

About the stopping in 3rd and moving from 4th to 3rd/2nd that was something I never usually do i usally just stop in what ever gear i was in which was usally 4th so ill start gearing down when i know im going to be stopping.

I wouldn't go changing this aspect of your driving. If you know you are going to stop there is no reason to gear down.

Both methods are fine for test purposes, but if I was advising someone on what to do, i'd be telling them to stop in gear as you are currently doing.

IgsTer

Alanstrainor wrote: »

I wouldn't go changing this aspect of your driving. If you know you are going to stop there is no reason to gear down.

Both methods are fine for test purposes, but if I was advising someone on what to do, i'd be telling them to stop in gear as you are currently doing.

Oh so its perfectly fine to slow down and stop in what ever gear I was travelling in? that would suit me better if i could do that in the test seen as ive been doing it for two years now changing the way I stop a couple of days before my test probably isnt the best idea if i can get away with it.

Alanstrainor

IgsTer wrote: »

Oh so its perfectly fine to slow down and stop in what ever gear I was travelling in? that would suit me better if i could do that in the test seen as ive been doing it for two years now changing the way I stop a couple of days before my test probably isnt the best idea if i can get away with it.

It is perfectly fine to stop in the gear you're in.

Of course, you'll need to be able to change down to second when say approaching a roundabout, or a junction that you may be able to enter without stopping. But when you're certain you are going to stop, at a Stop sign for example you can just stop in 4th or what ever gear you're in.

IgsTer

Ah cheers for that thatll help out alot in the test. Yeah ill change to second for the likes of roundabouts and junctions maybe even first for some of those t- junctions and the likes. But yeah for stop signs and lights that have just gone red ill just stop in 4th or 3rd then be alot easier.

**Timbuk2**

Yes, it's perfectly fine (and in fact recommended, if you know you are going to stop) to stop in the gear that you are in, even if it is 4th or 5th.

However, in relation to your original problem, being in 4th gear may make you think you need to clutch in a lot earlier. Try it some day on a quiet road - it may surprise you how slow you can go, even in high gears, before you need to clutch in (i.e. before the engine starts to labour).

IgsTer

Thanks for clearing things up even further mate. I think that is definately the reason why i clutch in so early because i feel being in fourth means i have to before i go under 30kph or so. Did a few tests today stopping in 4th and was surprised at slow i could actually go before my engine started to labour musta been around 10kmph or so. Will practise alot more tomorrow now around the test area and see how things go.

IgsTer

Just back from my test there and failed

heres my test sheet:
http://tinypic.com/r/2rm9ts3/5

With regards to the hazards i know i shifted up to 4th just before a ramp that is really really smooth just by reflex. Also i think maybe once or twice i may have shifted down too late to either 3rd or 2nd right before hitting ramps. Not sure of any other moments such as going my pedestrians etc that i could of being marked for as well.

With regards to clutch I havent a clue how i got four grade 2's. I dont think i coast but maybe its to do with holding clutch in, in first gear while waiting to turn instead of using handbrake and neutral? or maybe im still putting clutch in too early i dont know.


Looking back maybe i should have gotten just one pre test for them to spot what im doing wrong with these two main aspects.

The position marks i know exactly where i went wrong. And the signals moving off i forgot to indicate out doing u turn and indicated too late actually on a turn going left.


Apart from that the tester said if you take those two aspects out of it the sheet is pretty clean so hopefully with some pretests done ill have better look next time.

ADIDriving

It is very difficult to solve driving problem over the internet. The reaction to hazards are not necessarily ramps. But there is not specific gear you need to be in for a ramp. With the clutch it is just an educated guess, based on what you have written, but you may spend too long making some gear changes. As in, you may be too slow coming off the clutch after gear changes. Get a good instructor to look at your driving and you should get it next time. There are not many thing to fix.

MascotDec85

Alanstrainor wrote: »

+1 on what ADIDriving said.

Do not put the car into first until you are ready to move off again.

You should be able to slow down to 10km/h or so in 3rd/4th gear without the car stalling, so there's no real worry about that. Just clutch in just before you stop.

In a petrol car maybe, not in a diesel (just for clarity)