seamus wrote: Completely wrong. For the purposes of the test, the tester might not notice you skipping a gear, but if they do, it's usually marked down as improper use of the controls. Everything about driving revolves around anticipation. You must anticipate when you will need to stop, and adjust your speed accordingly. "Coasting" is driving along with the clutch fully depressed. It's a common habit of learners who aren't all that confident with clutch braking and rely solely on the footbrake to slow down. If you're finding that you don't have the time to switch down between the gears when approaching a junction, then you're driving too fast or (more likely) leaving it too late to begin slowing down. Slowing down for a junction should be very like an aircraft approaching a landing - I've never been on a aircraft that speed up to the runway, then at the last minute cuts the throttle and drps the flaps to reduce its speed. No, it's a gradual, comfortable, controlled reduction in speed.
Also braking is not the sign of a bad driver as some one else suggested - they only other way to decrease your speed to allow a smooth gear change is by allowing the car slow by taking your foot of the accelerator. By doing this you are giving no warning of slowing to drivers behind you.
It's all very well talking about advanced driving techniques but I believe the OP is asking the correct technique for passing the standard driving test. It's no good being an advanced driver and stopping in 4th or 5th if the DOE driving examiners are looking for drivers to go down through the gears and stop in 2nd. As I said, the way I was taught (by ISM) for my test was to go down through the gears. The problem with stopping in a high gear is that there's a tendancy to coast more (as you must dip the clutch at a higher speed to avoid stalling/labouring) To counteract this you brake harder so that the car stops almost instantly when you dip the clutch, reducing coasting. I can't see the examiners being too impressed with this braking style and they *definitely* won't be impressed if you coast, in fact you'll fail instantly
The problem with stopping in a high gear is that there's a tendancy to coast more
Secondly, is it really the job of the driver ahead to warn the eejit behind that he's slowing down
jayok wrote: Also, are you proposing than an advanced driver who sits the driving test will fail because they were executing the above braking technique?
It's all a matter of having the correct technique. When executed properly this is not the case.
Correct me if I'm wrong but don't some (not all) "advanced" driving courses tell you that it's OK to cross your hands on the wheel. A technique which will cause you to fail your standard test.
jayok wrote: This is the only method taught by the advance driving course.
What advanced driving course?
jayok wrote: Institute of Advanced Motorists (www.iam.org)
They have an Irish branch: http://www.irishadvancedmotorists.ie/
vector wrote: reading your replies it seems that changing down is the best way, for so many reasons but I tried is last night on an empty road, driving up to 50kmph and pretending to stop for a traffic light, I can't get it.. nice idea and I'd save a fortune on brake pads but I'll put it off for the future.
So for the actual test I'll just depress the clutch almost* fully and go thouth the motions fo changing down 4>3>2 (and when at 0 into first) but actually be using the brakes to stop
Squirrel wrote: that says that braking and changing gears should be avoided, and so is coasting, therefore would it not be more sensible to change down gears down to 2nd or so before you start braking, that way you don't brake and change gear at the same time, or coast
This is somthing I have always done. Is this wrong? Why
vector wrote: don't actually go into neutral when your'e moving, I mean its one thing to drive like me and press the clutch and coast, but to actually select neutral on purpose when you're moving... no
Philbert wrote: I gathered that from the thread!! But im confused, why is this such a bad thing? I mean it allows me to not have to worry about gears and just concentrate on stopping the car. In the event that I have to move off, I just select the best gear for the speed im doing.
jayok wrote: This is coasting and is technically wrong. But I hear you ask why? I am simply just taking pressure off the brakes by disengaging the engine? Yes, but it's also to do with ensuring that the engine keeps turning over when the car is moving. So much depends on a running engine in a car (assisted brakes, power steering, etc) that you will want to ensure that if there is anything mechanically wrong with the engine that these system are running while you are moving. I don't know if you've ever driven a car with power steering that has cut-out mid turn on you, (if coasting) but the steering goes very heavy. This is just and example, you no longer have consistent control of the car and the reason you should not coast.
There nothing wrong in stopping your car in 2nd but for the record you should not go straight from 4th to 2nd for test purposes as another user has pointed out
jayok wrote: The problem here is say you are in 4th doing 60kph. Dropping the car to 2nd first will cause excessive revving of the engine and won't result in a smooth ride.
anticipate braking
Squirrel wrote: That made alot of sense jayok, but I'm only saying what caused my sister to fail her test, and the examiner the second time remarked on how well she slowed the car using that method, and I'm also saying my experience, although at 16, I "don't" drive
jayok wrote: The greatest difficultly here is that there is no publically published standard for the driving system in Ireland. All conversations are simply based on what we "think" the instructor will want. We can only hope that they understand the correct techniques.
jayok wrote: Specifically there are two ways to handle the steeting wheel, the cross-over technique and the push-pull technique. For high-speed driving where the turning ratio of the steering wheel to the angle of the front wheels is small (i.e. Formula 1, rally type) the cross-over technique is better. However, in regular road cars the push-pull technique offers smoother control and better handling. This is the only method taught by the advance driving course. So, no, it is not ok to cross your hands during the advanced driving or standard exam.
To stop the car in a high-gear, say 5th, follow the procedure above. From what I see most pople are afraid that they will stall the car when braking, while possible, if timed correctly this will not occur. Coasting does occur in 5th (or 6th) to the greatest degree, but from 3rd it should be no different than first. As stated above stopping in 5th a small bit of coasting is tolerated - it has to be. If we are being really pedantic about it you must coast as some stage even when is second - the car is never at a fully stop before you disengage the clutch.
With regard to sharp braking, all modern cars have a hydraulic cushion to prevent the need to hammer the brakes and smothen out the application of the brakes. The disengaging of the engine from the wheels while braking should not cause a sharp increase in deceleration.
BrianD wrote: I would disagree. Hoody has the technique on the button. Also braking is not the sign of a bad driver as some one else suggested - they only other way to decrease your speed to allow a smooth gear change is by allowing the car slow by taking your foot of the accelerator. By doing this you are giving no warning of slowing to drivers behind you.
