Which gear should you use for driving over ramps?

FeckArseInc

On Castletymon road, there's several ramps and this road is often used on the test routes for Tallaght.

My Mother keeps telling me to only drive in third gear over the whole road. When out with my Father, he keeps telling me to drive up in fourth and then drop down into third when you reach the ramp.


When out with my instructor last week for a sample test, I drove a bit slower for safety and tried to concentrate on observations and problems I had with the clutch.

I managed to overcome problems with the clutch and improved on observations, but was faulted for gears and progress. Essentially driving too slowly on main roads and not using the right gears for certain speeds.



So my questions is, on a road like Castletymon which has a speed limit of 50 kph and half a dozen speed ramps. Is it better to get the speed up and drive up to in fourth gear or should I remain in third throughout?

FeckArseInc

FeckArseInc wrote: »

On Castletymon road, there's several ramps and this road is often used on the test routes for Tallaght.

My Mother keeps telling me to only drive in third gear over the whole road. When out with my Father, he keeps telling me to drive up in fourth and then drop down into third when you reach the ramp.


When out with my instructor last week for a sample test, I drove a bit slower for safety and tried to concentrate on observations and problems I had with the clutch.

I managed to overcome problems with the clutch and improved on observations, but was faulted for gears and progress. Essentially driving too slowly on main roads and not using the right gears for certain speeds.

So my questions is, on a road like Castletymon which has a speed limit of 50 kph and half a dozen speed ramps. Is it better to get the speed up and drive up to in fourth gear or should I remain in third throughout?

I'm not a driving instructor but I've heard plenty of people say that 3rd is appropriate for anywhere with a 50kph limit as it makes it harder to speed accidentally. I believe this is advice given to people on speed education courses in the UK for example.

You are not exactly destroying the engine doing 45-50 in 3rd. I can't possibly see how you would be failed for not getting up to 4th in between speed bumps, surely that sends all the wrong messages?

FeckArseInc

Deleted User wrote: »

You are not exactly destroying the engine doing 45-50 in 3rd. I can't possibly see how you would be failed for not getting up to 4th in between speed bumps, surely that sends all the wrong messages?

But what about progress? Could I get faulted if you're driving faster in lower gear?

My instructor told me this while driving through a housing estate for the maneuvers. Essentially I need to drive in gear that is appropriate to the speed. If I'm driving on a stretch of road along houses in 30 kph, then I need to move up from second to third and can't just stay in second. Or less slow down and stay slow in second.

FeckArseInc

FeckArseInc wrote: »

But what about progress? Could I get faulted if you're driving faster in lower gear?

My instructor told me this while driving through a housing estate for the maneuvers. Essentially I need to drive in gear that is appropriate to the speed. If I'm driving on a stretch of road along houses in 30 kph, then I need to move up from second to third and can't just stay in second. Or less slow down and stay slow in second.

http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/motors/most-cars-in-wrong-gear-for-urban-trips-1.1129171

I can't say if you would be faulted for not moving out of third, but if I was I would be pretty angry given that this advice has been around for a long time now...

If your car doesn't mind doing something close to 50 in 3rd, why the hell should you move up to 4th, that doesn't make sense to me.

MascotDec85

It depends on a number of factors

A) how steep each ramp is
the distance between them
C) how low your car is

I can't speak for the road itself but if there's room to pick up speed between each bump do so. If that means you need to go up to a higher gear, do so. If it means you need to go back down again for the ramp then do so.

In general, you should attempt to get to 4th in a 50 zone, if traveling at 50. If you don't you'll be faulted for it. However, if you car engine labours in 4th you should go back to 3rd. You should attempt this more than once. This was the advice I was given by a tester a few weeks ago when one of my pupils was driving a 1.5 diesel Dacia which was struggling in 4th at 50

J_R

Deleted User wrote: »

http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/motors/most-cars-in-wrong-gear-for-urban-trips-1.1129171

I can't say if you would be faulted for not moving out of third, but if I was I would be pretty angry given that this advice has been around for a long time now...

If your car doesn't mind doing something close to 50 in 3rd, why the hell should you move up to 4th, that doesn't make sense to me.

Hi,

I do not agree with Brian Byrne and his conclusions. Sounds odd for an advanced driving organization to recommend staying in a low gear to avoid breaking the speed limit. Why stop at urban driving. ? Why nor stay in 4th gear to avoid breaking the 100 Kmh, not use 5th or 6th ?


I did a course with Michael Kavanagh, (Quoted in above article) I certainly do not remember him advising me to use 3rd in urban areas. But do remember that he recommended a scan of your mirrors and speedometer every five to six seconds. That should be the proper method to avoid the speed "creeping up" .

And, if conditions warrant it a person will be marked for not changing up. However if as Mascot sez if your car is unhappy in 4th at 50 Kmh, never-the-less go into 4th, the moment the car shows signs of distress change back down. Just to show the examiner , they like to think they are omnipotent, but of course they are not, they may not know the characteristics of your car.

But OP, how come your instructor did not explain what gear, speed to use, surely that is why you are paying him - to instruct.? To explain to you how to deal with speed ramps and not just the ones in that specific road but all types of ramps, under all conditions. ???

Alanstrainor

I'd agree with the general consensus here saying that 4th gear is best for 50km/h in most circumstances. And then drop to 3rd for very shallow ramps. I would not advocate driving in 3rd at 50km/h, and I don't think any tester will listen to the logic of the higher revs keeping you within the speed limit.

Best of luck.

Alanstrainor

Alanstrainor wrote: »

I'd agree with the general consensus here saying that 4th gear is best for 50km/h in most circumstances. And then drop to 3rd for very shallow ramps. I would not advocate driving in 3rd at 50km/h, and I don't think any tester will listen to the logic of the higher revs keeping you within the speed limit.

Best of luck.

Interesting responses. It seems very odd that an organisation like Rospa in the UK suggests driving in 3rd at 30mph and yet it's something that could lead to failing a test here....

http://www.rospa.com/road-safety/advice/drivers/speed/top-ten-tips-to-stay-within-the-limit/3rd-gear/

wrt the speed limit I definitely think it helps. You 'feel' any attempt to go much beyond 30mph in third whereas conversely travelling right at 30 in 4th feels too slow for the gear (in my car). Obviously this is a theoretical discussion, it sounds like for the test as it stands today, getting into 4th is necessary!

CailinGaillimh

It depends on the size of the ramps to be honest.

When I did my test, I was brought through an area with about 7 barely there, large ramps. My instructor's advice was to get up to your 4th to show progress and for those ramps come down to 3rd. And then go back to 4th IF there's enough space between bumps to do so - show you can make progress

For the more narrow/higher bumps then, I was always told to come right down the gears, pop into first and over you go!

J_R

Deleted User wrote: »

Interesting responses. It seems very odd that an organisation like Rospa in the UK suggests driving in 3rd at 30mph and yet it's something that could lead to failing a test here....

http://www.rospa.com/road-safety/advice/drivers/speed/top-ten-tips-to-stay-within-the-limit/3rd-gear/

wrt the speed limit I definitely think it helps. You 'feel' any attempt to go much beyond 30mph in third whereas conversely travelling right at 30 in 4th feels too slow for the gear (in my car). Obviously this is a theoretical discussion, it sounds like for the test as it stands today, getting into 4th is necessary!

Hi,
I think the headline of that article is slightly misleading

It says

Drivers should, of course, choose the appropriate gear for their speed and the road, weather and traffic circumstances, and change gear as those circumstances change. The most appropriate gear to use when driving at 30 mph will depend on your engine size, but in many modern cars it is possible to drive at 30 mph in 3rd gear without making the engine labour.

So, if 4th gear is called for, then use 4th gear. Also some modern cars can very comfortably drive in 4th at 50Kmh. With a slight incline, mine can travel in 5th. As article says, depends on the car/ engine

Further quote

If you struggle to keep your car within 30 mph when driving in a 30 mph zone, try driving in 3rd gear (or lower when necessary). If you can comfortably travel at 30 mph in 3rd gear without feeling that the engine is laboured, adopt 'no higher than 3rd in 30 mph' as a principle.

So, only if you struggle, could easily have gone on to say that if you and your car are comfortable keeping at 50 Kmh in 4th gear then use 4th.

I read that article as more as a hint in avoiding a speeding ticket that eco driving.