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

[markcuk]

just drive an auto :-)

[laserblazer]

I had my first lessons in my brother's 100E Anglia, which had 3 forward gears and no synchromesh on 1st. Getting into 2nd noise free involved double declutching and changing into 1st whilst moving required real hand/foot coordination. I've got my 3 yearly minibus assessment next week. I'll ask the examiner what he thinks.

[K.C.Leblanc]

I was taught to go down the gears but not to bother going down to 1st until I'd stopped.

 

However I then had lessons in my Mum's ancient Polo which sometimes needed to be change down to 1st on some occasions.

 

At the end of the day you need to learn to get a feel for how a particular likes to be driven. If you work on the basis I always change up from this gear to that gear at this speed you're doing it wrong.

 

I was quite lucky in this respect since by the time I'd been driving for 3 years I'd probably driven 8 different vehicles. This ranged from the aformentioned Polo, to a 2.8 litre turbo diesel Renault Trafic (with a towing gear box) where first was only used on steep inclines or when heavily laden. You would normaly pull away in second.

[synaesthesia]

As has already been said, and applying just as much to my car, most vehicles HATE being forced into 1st when moving, modern gearboxes are not designed to do that. It's pretty much for pulling away from a standstill and that's about it. My stepdad agrees having been an instructor for more years than I've been alive, but just puts it down to driving instruction being very unstandardised and poorly regulated; take a look at those Red adverts as to a reason why.

[Guest Guest]

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

 

Yep, pretty much that ^

 

My car is a nightmare. It wont let you change down until you are all but stopped but because of the gear ratios it doesnt like being in 2nd at anything less than 15mph - not fun in traffic.

 

 

As said you are getting taught to pass a test, NOT how to drive (stupid, but thats how the UK works atm). Just do as you are told and hope for the best. Its a PITA i know as lets face it generally driving instructors/examinors arnt too bright... Some of the stupid things ive heard or experianced are;

Dont slow down for train crossings.

Dont use 3rd or 4th gear other than as a means to get to 5th

Got a major for doing 35mph in a 40.

I was made to all but stop on a busy main road on my 1st lesson so the instructor could "prove the point" that we are at the front and people cant pass us, and proceeded to shout rather aggressively until i slowed down to less than 10mph - brilliant idea for my confidence. You can guess how many more lessons he took me on

When i was doing my lessons you didnt leave it in first when at the lights as accidents may happen. Apparently now you leave it in "coz its easier init".

[u8dmtm]

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.

 

I agree with that, in fact I don't think anyone who has driven less than perhaps 100,000 post test miles and at least ten years experience can be considered to be an experienced driver.

[Sirbendy]

I generally tend to do nothing...

 

 

 

"Drive" does it all for me, heh..

[michael2k6]

Originally Posted by 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...

 

 

That too. Unless you like paying for gearboxes... come to think of it, presumably it's his gearbox not yours, drive like that in his and do what u like when you pass. Within reason!

[Ste_Harve]

Well I was taught to use the gears to slow down, 5-3-2. Never ever into first by my instructor, this was 10 years ago. All my cars apart from my current bmw have a gate to stop you engaging first at anything above 10mph. The bmw will happiily drop to first at anything upto 30mph. But you need to rev match the engine so not to cause a sudden jolt. I did my race driving license a few years ago and now find myself using the gears more to slow down and anticipate traffic, but if i'm out for a spirited drive, I often end up dropping down through the gears to first when at about 15mph approaching lights.

 

I would drive to how your instructor tells you to pass the test. Once thats done have a look at doing pass plus or an IAM course to get a better feel for driving daily. You only learn once you've passed. Your taught to pass the rest is upto you.

[TomStanley]

Hi everyone,

 

Thanks a lot for the information, very interesting to see how everyone else uses the gears (or in some cases no gears at all )

 

Tom.

[creese]

Quite interestingly on my way to and from hospital yesterday I was making note of how I do drive and realised I did use the brakes more than I thought whilst changing down the gears.

 

I would like to make a special mention for the 2 idiots who decided rather than get in the correct lane on the M4/5 interchange they would suddenly stop in the middle lane in the hope of being let in the the M5 queue. Luckily the lane to my left had a space I could swerve into. I hope it was caught on camera.

[markwatkins]

Alll good advice however what advice would give in this instance?

 

BBC News - Learner driver flips car on roof in Oxford

[jamesb]

Alll good advice however what advice would give in this instance?

 

BBC News - Learner driver flips car on roof in Oxford

 

Buy a bus pass.

[K.C.Leblanc]

I have been driven by someone who went from 1st to 3rd to 5th. Very odd.

[Gatt]

Obviously ignoring complaints from the engine as well then

[jamesb]

I have been driven by someone who went from 1st to 3rd to 5th. Very odd.

 

I know that on my advanced driving course I was told to skip gears while driving, not bothering to (for example) go from 4th to 3rd to 2nd to make a turn but to slow down with braking and normal deceleration, then just jump straight in to 2nd as I stopped decelerating.

 

Changing up was the same, so generally when coming on to a national limit road I'll sit in 3rd until I'm up to speed, then jump to fifth. This all depends on the car though. In my old one I'd need to change from 3rd to 4th to 5th to get enough acceleration to get up to speed in time.

[Guest Guest]

generally when coming on to a national limit road I'll sit in 3rd until I'm up to speed, then jump to fifth..

 

Same here. 3rd gear can take me quite comfortably up to 80mph so why bother with 4th gear if im done accelerating? As you said, its part of advanced driving. What they teach you to pass your test is massively different to what police/race drivers/etc are taught.