Selecting low gears when driving
When you are driving, you will just learn to change gears without really thinking about what you are doing and when. But generally you will change up gears the faster you are going, and this is often queued by you hearing the engine noise increase and the revs go up when you are at a higher speed in a lower gear.
However there are some situations where you need to think carefully about which gear you are in.
When you are driving in terrain that is up and down, you may see a 'low gear now' sign. This will often arise when you near the top of a hill and are about to go down the other side. Because of gravity being what it is, you will not simply want to use your brakes to slow you down when coming down a big hill.
Therefore you will need some engine braking as well. By selecting a low gear when you go down the kill, the engine will help to hold the car back and prevent it running away as a result. Also keeping your foot on the brakes over a long period could lead to it failing. That's not what you want to happen when you are going down a hill.
You will probably have noticed that some roads have run offs for those whose brakes have failed which of course is a good safety feature but not something you would ever want to have to rely on.
Related Articles...
Vehicles that cannot be used for a practical test
The vast majority of drivers will of course use the vehicle of their instructor or driving school when they take their practical test and so will not need to worry about the vehicle.
However...
Your engine temperature gauge
These days many of us get into a car without really understanding how any of it works, and even the engine and how it operates and powers the car is a mystery to many.
Well, essentially it...
Car Driving Theory Topics
When studying for the car theory test it is important to understand the types of topics that will be covered.
The theory test is there to satisfy European Community regulations and so the...
Driving Theory Stopping Distances
Stopping distances refer to the distance that you car is going to travel from the time that you decide that you need to press the brake through the time that the vehicle physically stops...
Professional driving instructors
When you learn to drive, you have the choice who teaches you. The majority of people decide to learn through a professional driving instructor and often through a major school of...
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...
Driving Test and Independent Driving
Independent driving - where the candidate is not following the directions given at each stage by the instructor but rather following a route, e.g. following road signs to Town X until the instructor...
Using head restraints
Your car will have head restraints in it, but do you take the time to adjust these before using the vehicle and ensuring they are set at the correct level for you? Head restraints in vehicles are...
Medical rules and driving
There are a wide range of conditions that you can hold and still be a safe driver. However there are certain conditions that will may impact on your ability to be a safe driver and therefore could...
Various road markings you might find
Many drivers who are good at interpreting and understanding what a large range of road signs mean are not so good when it comes to road markings.
Some drivers appear to not even really be...
Back to home page of driving theory test questions
