The automatic transmission explained
Whilst the automatic transmission system is very clever, you still need to have some control over it, and this is where the selector lever comes into play, which is in the place that you would have the gear stick in a manual transmission car in most cases, although not always.
The most important ones are:
N: this stands for Neutral, and you start the car engine with the lever in this position.
P: this stands for park and it locks the transmission, clearly this should be used when the car is parked and the engine is off.
R: for reverse; as the name suggests this is for when you need to reverse the car
D: Drive, this is the position that you'll have the lever in the vast majority of the time because this is the position when you want the car to go forwards, which is the majority of the time; in ordinary road driving you will have the car in D and the automatic transmission will control the gears itself automatically
Individual gear numbers: some automatic transmissions will let you specifically select a gear, or limit the top gear: this is for conditions where the automatic transmission might select the wrong gear, for instance going up a steep hill or similar
Drive options: there can be other drive options available too, these would typically be numbered D1 and so on.
Related Articles...
The Driving Standards Agency
The Driving Standards Agency has a website at www.dsa.gov.uk.
They are an executive agency within the Department for Transport in the UK.
They deliver tests for theory and practical...
Your steering system
When it comes to driving the car, it is safe to say that the steering wheel is clearly an essential part! If you can't steer your vehicle, then you clearly cannot drive it.
There are two...
Towing a load such as a caravan
When you tow a vehicle such as a caravan, it is clearly the case that driving conditions will be very different, and much more so again than simply having a heavier load or having a roof rack...
What causes accidents: tailgating
Driving too close to a vehicle is dangerous for the very simple reason that you have too little time to react should something unexpected happen. And when you consider how many road journeys there...
Speed limits on motorways
The speed limits on the motorway are something that you will no doubt be aware of for cars, but is the limit the same for a motorbike? And what about if you are bus or a coach driver?
Another...
What to do at level crossings
When you are learning to drive you may well not come across a level crossing, depending where you live. But as a driver you certainly will come across level crossings and will need to know how to...
What to look for when you see a vehicle
Here is a simple check list of things to take into account when you check a used vehicle that you are considering purchasing.
Firstly, look at the engine carefully, and see if you think it has...
Your ignition system explained
The ignition system is of course an essential part of the technology that allows cars to function, and without it you would not get very far. But what does it do? Well the system provides the...
The Advanced Driving Test
There are advantages to continuing to study driving by means of a course like the advanced driving test, because it will help to give you the chance to develop your skills even further than you had...
The New Drivers Act
The New Drivers Act is legislation that applies to those who have just passed their test and are categorised as new drivers, which in this legal definition refers to the first two years of passing...
Back to home page of driving theory test questions
