Learning to drive - Changing from 2nd gear to 1st gear when slowing down

[TomStanley]

Hi everyone,

 

Just looking for a bit of advise - I'm learning to drive, and the instructor insists on changing from 2nd gear to 1st gear when slowing down so I am ready to set back off. Everyone I work with say this is wrong - I should stay in 2nd gear, and as soon as I have stopped change to 1st gear. I unserstand 1st gear is only for setting off and getting the car in motion, so why does he say I should change to gear 1 when I am still moving?

 

What does everyone on here think?

 

Thanks,

 

Tom.

[creese]

That is what I was taught many years ago. More recently at a 're-education' speed course I was told 1st is up to 10MPH, 2nd up to 20MPH etc. I was also told it was better to use the gears to slow down.

[Guest Htech]

My car would throw a hissy fit when i used to do this. I was also taught to do it that way. But like people are saying id preferred changing gears after i had stopped.

[u8dmtm]

Changing down through the gears is useful for 'engine braking', i.e. slowing the car down with the engine instead of the brakes, reducing the wear on your brakes. You are also less likely to stall and more able to move off quickly if circumstances ahead change.

[Michelle]

The way I see it is this: how much does it cost to replace a gearbox, and how much to replace brakes. Cheaper to replace brakes, so thats what I choose to use.

[Sarconia]

I'd say that your driving instructor is in the wrong. I was taught to drive about 5yrs ago and was never taught to get into 1st gear whilst slowing down, I was always told to stay in 2nd gear until the car had fully stopped moving and then to change gears as 99% of cars can still take off in 2nd gear without any issues as long as the wheels are still rolling.

 

I don't think it's too good for the engine of your car either... once again, most cars would definitely jolt somewhat if I put it into 1st gear whilst still moving and I don't think the driving test instructor would be too happy sitting in a car that was chugging around each time you came to a stop!

 

Added note: Engine braking is fine but in a good car... you'll notice that if you simply don't put your foot down when in gear, the engine will hold you back somewhat, the same applies to going down a hill in 2nd or 3rd gear. Still... unless it is a hill of extreme proportions... (like when you're travelling to Alton Towers) it's very rare that you'd use 1st gear to engine brake.

Edited April 13, 2010 by Sarconia
Engine braking

[powdarrmonkey]

I was also taught to only drop into first to pull away again, and in fact the car I have now throws an absolute fit if you try and get it into first above about 3MPH. In any car, I'd be concerned about trashing the gear mesh getting into first while moving.

[creese]

The way I see it is this: how much does it cost to replace a gearbox, and how much to replace brakes. Cheaper to replace brakes, so thats what I choose to use.

 

Surely the wear would be on the clutch not the gearbox and would be significantly less than on all 8 brake pads. Brake pads could easily be £100 before labour.

[RabbieBurns]

better explanation below Edited April 13, 2010 by RabbieBurns
Removed.

[Michelle]

I was thinking more of the crunching through the gates on the box more than clutch. 8 pads, mine has 4, and dont get a garage to fit, I cant fix a box or replace a clutch

[RabbieBurns]

Incidentally, I was tought both ways. Theres a 'closed junction' and an 'open junction'. In the first, you cant see whats going on, or you are most likely going to stop. You change to 1st gear at the 2nd last white stripe tihng on the lead up to the junciton. At an open junction, you can see from way far behind if theres somehitng coming or not. So at the very 1st white stipe you come to, you drop to 2nd, then you can approach the junction knowing you are either able to keep going, or take your turn (as you have had pleanty of room to see if theres something coming), or able to stop safely if something appears out of nowhere.

 

edit: So, down to 1st year if you know you are going to be stopping, and you are breaking with the car, not using the car to break. 2nd gear if you plan on keeping going..

Edited April 13, 2010 by RabbieBurns

[creese]

Those of us taught to drive years ago were conditioned to move our way up and down the gear box systematically – 4, 3, 2 and 1. But that’s because vehicles in those days had inferior brakes and we needed to bring the cars to a halt by using the drag of the transmission.

These days, we recommend “block changing”. Use the brakes to slow down, then, when the speed is right, choose the gear that is best for that speed. So you may move from fourth, say, straight to second, after you have finished braking. Brake pads are cheaper to replace than clutches. You can also block change to move up, skipping intermediate gears. So remember “gears to go, brakes to slow”.

 

Advanced Driving UK :: Learner, Advanced Driving and Motoring Advice

[capncrunch]

If you are worried about changing from 2nd to 1st whilst moving then you need to double de-clutch with a blip of the throttle to match engine speed with roadspeed then jobs a good'n. Though would not try that if you are still learning to drive. Wait til you pass then learn to drive properly

 

As for gear changing i was taught to drive just over 3 years and was told to block shift but i always work through all the gears up and down through box. The main reason being you should always be in an appropriate gear for the speed you are doing so you are ready for any situation.

[peterp]

Changing down through the gears is useful for 'engine braking', i.e. slowing the car down with the engine instead of the brakes, reducing the wear on your brakes. ....

 

As I was told when learning. Brakes are cheaper than engines, use your brakes to slow down.

[RabbieBurns]

Those of us taught to drive years ago were conditioned to move our way up and down the gear box systematically – 4, 3, 2 and 1. But that’s because vehicles in those days had inferior brakes and we needed to bring the cars to a halt by using the drag of the transmission.

These days, we recommend “block changing”. Use the brakes to slow down, then, when the speed is right, choose the gear that is best for that speed. So you may move from fourth, say, straight to second, after you have finished braking. Brake pads are cheaper to replace than clutches. You can also block change to move up, skipping intermediate gears. So remember “gears to go, brakes to slow”.

 

Advanced Driving UK :: Learner, Advanced Driving and Motoring Advice

 

aye thats the way i was taught too (10 years ago)

 

The key info in creese's post is that you use the breaks to slow the car down first, and change to a gear that matches the speed. Not to use the gears to slow down.

[creese]

aye thats the way i was taught too (10 years ago)

 

The key info in creese's post is that you use the breaks to slow the car down first, and change to a gear that matches the speed. Not to use the gears to slow down.

 

Thinking about it, I would say that is what I do.

[gibbo_ap]

i'll finish reading the above after posting but i think that he is right in the sense that he is teaching you to pass a test not how to drive. i dont drive, but ppl have always said that you learn to drive after you pass.

[CyberDrac]

It works with bikes as well, I was taught that you should always be in an appropriate gear to the speed you are travelling, the moment you drop below the speed where your gears would be laboured to allow you to accelerate then you should have changed down.

[Chris_in_notts]

I personally would never go into 1st to slow down, you are going to damage the gear mesh and the wear the clutch, always use the gears to slow down but not into 1st but I suppose if thats how he wants you to do it then it's only his car your going to damage I just wouldnt do it in your own car lol and yes brakes are cheaper than engines but if your instructor teaches you how to do it right you wont be wearing the engine or brakes

[Andrew_C]

No to changing into 1st while moving, unless crawling in traffic. There is a gate to prevent you doing this for a reason...

[Gatt]

I was taught that you can stop in any gear, then to go into neutral, put the hand brake on and then put it in 1st gear to set off..

 

I passed my test doing it this way (december 2008) though got an advisory for always stopping at junctions instead of "creeping" up to them in 1st gear so I could be ready to keep moving if it was clear again.

 

I find I am only ever in 1st if "crawling along" (ie setting off or stuck in a stop/start queue of traffic)

 

Keeping it in neutral will save wear & tear on your clutch, putting on the handbrake also means your not sat with your foot on the brake and annoying the person behind you if you have high brakelights..

[SteveBentley]

"Brakes to slow, Gears to Go" was the maxim I was taught.

[Arcath]

I was taught that you can stop in any gear, then to go into neutral, put the hand brake on and then put it in 1st gear to set off..

 

I passed my test doing it this way (december 2008) though got an advisory for always stopping at junctions instead of "creeping" up to them in 1st gear so I could be ready to keep moving if it was clear again.

 

I find I am only ever in 1st if "crawling along" (ie setting off or stuck in a stop/start queue of traffic)

 

Keeping it in neutral will save wear & tear on your clutch, putting on the handbrake also means your not sat with your foot on the brake and annoying the person behind you if you have high brakelights..

 

yeah i passed march 2009 and thats how i do it, i only use gears to slow down when im going down a hill etc....

[dayzd]

When I was taking lessons, I was taught that if you're stopping at the junction, to put the clutch down just before you come to a standstill and push it into first as you physically stop. You're ready to move away quickly this way, but don't actually engage first while you're still slowing.

 

In terms of open junctions, where you can see what is coming, I was told staying in second was appropriate unless you were going really slow (almost stopped) by the time you were safe to move off again.

[creese]

I'm waiting for that age where a don a flat cap and glasses, keep my mouth open at all times. Sit at the lights until I'm absolutely sure they are green. Pull out of a junction only when something is coming and swing waaaay out to the right when turning into a side road on my left.