Correct procedure for slowing down

Dampsquid · 25-03-2003 1:46pm #1

What the correct procedure when slowing down to a complete stop?

Say you are doing 35 in 4th gear, your approaching red traffic lights, say 100m away. Do you slow down slowly, and come down through the gears, take it out of gear when your stopped.

Or do you just brake, keep it in 4th gear until you've almost stops, clutch, go in to 1st gear just as your come to a complete stop. then keep your foot on the clutch while you wait for the lights to change.

Which is the correct way, and which is the way you do it... i must say i do it the second way. would i fail my test for that?

Borzoi · 25-03-2003 1:50pm

The first way is correct (though it's not necessary to use ALL the gears.)

The second way will probably fail you, I think the examiners feel that with the eniine in nuetral (clutch in) you're not in full control of the car.

Young Sid · 25-03-2003 11:29pm

Why would you be in 4th gear if you're only doing 35?

Some what off the point, a good tip:

If you are braking to a stop, e.g. traffic lights, just before the car stops ease off the brake & the car come to a smooth stop. Gives a very controlled, smooth stop, impresses testers no end!

Blitzkrieger · 26-03-2003 1:24am

Originally posted by Dampsquid

you slow down slowly, and come down through the gears, take it out of gear when your stopped.

That's the way you have to do it to pass your test. And always put on the handbrake before taking it out of gear.

Originally posted by Dampsquid

Or do you just brake, keep it in 4th gear until you've almost stops, clutch, go in to 1st gear just as your come to a complete stop.

That's the way the Insititute of Avanced Motorists teach you to do it. It's an extension of 'block changing', i.e. if you are in 4th and need to drop to 2nd for a particular corner/bend, you just break smoothly, match the revs to the speed you are at and change straight from 4th to 2nd. It makes it easier to brake smootly and is safer because it cuts your overall braking distance and allows you to keep both hands on the wheel longer. Just don't do it until you pass your test.

Originally posted by Dampsquid
then keep your foot on the clutch while you wait for the lights to change.

Depends where you are in the queue, how quickly traffic is going to move and how long it'll be b4 the lights change. It's very much a judgement thing, but as a general rule if you're not 1st in the queue, take it out of gear and relax.

Originally posted by Dampsquid
would i fail my test for that?

Yes.

Dampsquid · 26-03-2003 11:16am

Thanks Blitzkrieger!

Why would you be in 4th gear if you're only doing 35?

I've got a 1.0L car, thats why!

daveg · 26-03-2003 12:17pm

Say you are doing 35 in 4th gear, your approaching red traffic lights, say 100m away. Do you slow down slowly, and come down through the gears, take it out of gear when your stopped.

Correct. Remember not to coast to the lights (push down the clutch and travel until you reach the lights) as you will fail for this - and you'll burn out the clutch.

Redshift · 26-03-2003 6:40pm

I come down through the gears depending on the speed I'm braking from and how much room there is as to how far down I will go through the gears. I tend to try to keep the car in gear as long as possible I use a combination of brakes and gears to slow right down and press the clutch just before the car would start to shudder. I would be in either second or third when I have stopped depending on the road conditions. Then into nuetral and apply the handbrake unless the traffic is about to move again then I would briefly hold it on the brakes. I would never drop down to first until the car is stationery or unless the traffic is no faster than walking speed.

Victor · 26-03-2003 7:43pm

Oh yeah, remeber to stop before the stop line!

Blitzkrieger · 27-03-2003 1:13am

Originally posted by Redshift
I use a combination of brakes and gears to slow right down

Engine braking (braking using the gears) used to be taught because brakes were ****. Nowadays brakes are much better, and there's no point using engine braking - you'll just wear out your gearbox faster.

.........unless your brakes fail of course...

Borzoi · 27-03-2003 8:52am

Originally posted by Dampsquid

I've got a 1.0L car, thats why!

I've a 2.0 litre turbo, and it can happily do 30 in 4th. And in a built up area, that's fine.

And also what's expected in the test - to use all the gears.

Dampsquid · 27-03-2003 9:52am

Another thing!

When you are coming down from 4th to 3rd gear, do you still keep you foot on the brake?

If the road is clear in front of you and you can clearly see when you have to stop, do you constantly brake slowly until that point, or what?

Just got a letter last night, got my driving test on 30th April, i applied last september...

Redshift · 27-03-2003 1:04pm

Originally posted by Dampsquid
Another thing!

When you are coming down from 4th to 3rd gear, do you still keep you foot on the brake?

If the road is clear in front of you and you can clearly see when you have to stop, do you constantly brake slowly until that point, or what?

Depends on how much room I have, if I have plently I use the gearbox to scrub off speed then I start using the brakes while still in gear slow right down. Thats the way I was taught my instructor told me that using the engine as a brake is good practice and I got my test first time in 1998 that way. I was also told that if the driven wheels are not in gear i.e. if in nuetral of if the clutch is pressed then you are not in full control of the car and thats why I keep the car in gear as much as possible.

Good luck with your test btw

Red

commited · 27-03-2003 8:11pm

Im in 4th for 30mph..
I usually just put it down into 2nd..
The lower the gear, the quicker you will stop + the more control you have

sceptre · 28-03-2003 12:28am

Continuing the off-topic "gears" thing...

I've been accused of driving like a taxi person lately. It's all the driving around the city I do (most of my weekly driving is the three miles to and from UL). I happily drive around the city under 30 in fourth gear. Often in fifth. I wouldn't notice myself but after two years of rarely even having a second person in the car I've had four in the car quite often recently (damn college socialising). I must stop doing this as, well, people find it funny.

Back on the original subject, where I've 100 metres to go to a red light and no traffic ahead of me, I tend to drift in by releasing the accelerator, foot hovering over the brake.

Dampsquid · 28-03-2003 11:41am

Im in 4th for 30mph..
I usually just put it down into 2nd..
The lower the gear, the quicker you will stop + the more control you have

If i was in 4th at 30mph, and i put it into second, the car would jump along cos the wheels would be driving the engine... i thought that that was bad driving?

Chimaera · 28-03-2003 2:35pm

Not if you blip the throttle on the downchange - all it needs is a quick prod to bring the revs up before you let the clutch in in 2nd. If you're good enough, you can do it with your heel, while braking with your toe (known as heel-and-toeing funnily enough), allowing you to change down through the gears while braking.

daveirl · 28-03-2003 7:12pm

This post has been deleted.

commited · 29-03-2003 7:20pm

Originally posted by Dampsquid
If i was in 4th at 30mph, and i put it into second, the car would jump along cos the wheels would be driving the engine... i thought that that was bad driving?

It is if u use the gears to slow down, but i meant along with braking..
Basically wot i was trying to say is that i dont go 4th-3rd-2nd, just straaight down to second which gives me more control

Correct procedure for slowing down

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