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[Radiomarko]

Daft to lose the benefits of engine braking as a compliment to the stoppers imho. Old habits die hard but Ill try the "new thinking" today and see if I survive.   

[Miggy24]

i go down by gear 5,4,3,2,1,

[Plomien]

maybe pay for a couple of professional lessons. Its what I did rest of time I was out with family when I sat my test a while back

[Kevin Wood]

No point in teaching him to go down through the gears until he can "heel and toe". 

My technique changes depending on circumstances. If you're just pootling around it's daft to go up and down through the gears. Just select the appropriate gear when you need to get back on the power, depending on how fast you're going.

If "pressing on" I do tend to select a lowish gear during braking, as engine braking does make it easier at times - you can go from gentle braking to hard acceleration with one pedal.   

As for economy, all modern engines will cut the fuel when on overrun, so I doubt technique really makes any difference, or hasn't since the demise of the carburettor.

The only thing that might be worth mentioning is that "block changing" does require better judgement as to which gear is appropriate to your speed when you come to accelerate, so might be less easy at first.

Kevin

[TheBoy]

For about the past 10-15yrs, the current teachin g has been slow down on the brakes, then select appropriate gear, unlike us old duffers who were taught to slow down via the gears.

Obviously, once test is passed, people tend to leanr how to drive (and under differing conditions)

[Jimbob]

Sure the teaching is to use your brakes, to show brake lights, so the retard behind knows you are slowing.

[Chris_H]

The driving test, like most things these days, involves jumping through some hoops that are of little practical value.  as advised above, I would recommend a couple of driving lessons to ensure that the current thinking is passed-on.  You may have to shop around a bit to find an obliging instructor - one who cares about the pupil getting through, not about selling more lessons.

I still remember my driving instructor, Arthur Harris.  He gave me about 2 or 3 lessons in 1971 to bolster the experience I had gained with my parents.  He was excellent.  Taught useful stuff like driving round manhole covers at right turns; stopping me mid-corner to look out of the door and see if I was crossing the white lines!

One of the main 'false' actions needed for the test was to move your head for mirror-checks as moving just the eyes can be missed by the examiner.

[zirk]

Whats all this about a driving test?, something else the goverments brought in to make more money at of us?

[TheBoy]

Whats all this about a driving test?, something else the goverments brought in to make more money at of us?

The test is obviously too easy in the Milton Keynes area, if you see the number of idiots who can't drive there....

[Lizzie_Zoom]

Although I was certainly taught to use the gears to assist in the braking of the vehicle, my 'A' class police driver friend taught me to use their method.

Brake using just the brakes, keep your revs high, then on the roundabout / junction change down to the lowest gear necessary and power accelerate out of it. This apparently gave the police driver an edge on others.  I was never convinced though, and when driving manuals I still use the gears in the BSM manner, unless I want maximum speed in a given situation.

[HolyCount]

The driving test, like most things these days, involves jumping through some hoops that are of little practical value.  as advised above, I would recommend a couple of driving lessons to ensure that the current thinking is passed-on.  You may have to shop around a bit to find an obliging instructor - one who cares about the pupil getting through, not about selling more lessons.

I still remember my driving instructor, Arthur Harris.  He gave me about 2 or 3 lessons in 1971 to bolster the experience I had gained with my parents.  He was excellent.  Taught useful stuff like driving round manhole covers at right turns; stopping me mid-corner to look out of the door and see if I was crossing the white lines!

One of the main 'false' actions needed for the test was to move your head for mirror-checks as moving just the eyes can be missed by the examiner.

The trick I was taught here was to adjust the mirror when you get in with the examiner, then quietly knock it slightly askew so that you have to actually move your head to see, rather than just your eyes. But don't make it too obvious

[Lizzie_Zoom]

The driving test, like most things these days, involves jumping through some hoops that are of little practical value.  as advised above, I would recommend a couple of driving lessons to ensure that the current thinking is passed-on.  You may have to shop around a bit to find an obliging instructor - one who cares about the pupil getting through, not about selling more lessons.

I still remember my driving instructor, Arthur Harris.  He gave me about 2 or 3 lessons in 1971 to bolster the experience I had gained with my parents.  He was excellent.  Taught useful stuff like driving round manhole covers at right turns; stopping me mid-corner to look out of the door and see if I was crossing the white lines!

One of the main 'false' actions needed for the test was to move your head for mirror-checks as moving just the eyes can be missed by the examiner.

The trick I was taught here was to adjust the mirror when you get in with the examiner, then quietly knock it slightly askew so that you have to actually move your head to see, rather than just your eyes. But don't make it too obvious

Yes HC, my BSM instructor told me that one in 1970 and it is a great tip. 8-) 8-) 8-)

[Ian_D]

i believe they teach block changing now. brake in what ever gear youn are in then change when you stop. ( if that  makes sense).
 they dont like you changing down thru the gears anymore

Thats how it was when I did my test a few years back.

Like others have said theres no need to change down gears now with modern brakes!

[crazyjoetavola]

Although I was certainly taught to use the gears to assist in the braking of the vehicle, my 'A' class police driver friend taught me to use their method.

Brake using just the brakes, keep your revs high, then on the roundabout / junction change down to the lowest gear necessary and power accelerate out of it. This apparently gave the police driver an edge on others.  I was never convinced though, and when driving manuals I still use the gears in the BSM manner, unless I want maximum speed in a given situation.

If I can recall my Roadcraft teachings Ms Zoom, it was to be ensured that the vehicle was always in the gear most appropriate for the prevailing conditions, and to the speed of the vehicle.

I was taught by a C8 driver ( before it became the CRS) and passed the civilian test in a total of 5 lessons.

When I was obliged to take the advanced course I found myself better placed, as most of the other candidates who had been taught in the standard techniques applicable to the MOT civilian test, found it difficult to adjust to the very different driving style required.

I can still recall his voice on approaching a course change,  'look, mirrors, check gears, brakes, look, mirrors, gear, brakes if necessary, look, mirrors, accelerate to clear obstacle and make all due progress'  Indicating ones intentions as appropriate of course. The brakes being the primary means by which the speed of the vehicle was altered.

It became second nature to adopt the following;

brakes = down - gears = up, in terms of having the vehicle at the correct speed in relation to the prevailing conditions (brakes) and in the most advantageous gear to continue with ones progress (gears).

In fact if the gears were inappropriately used, such as to slow the vehicle in the wrong circumstances, one received a slap across the back of the hand with one of those heavy black plastic SO rules.

When driving the Omega (which is not too often) I still use those same techniques, in so far as the auto box allows and I still practice the progress commentary which was a pain the drawers to perfect all those years ago. 

[VXL V6]

One of the thoughts about using just the brakes is that brakes are cheaper to replace than gearboxes...... terribly sorry old boy, I am a little tired.

As far as heel and toe goes I would only use it on the track in a RWD when you are downshifting for a corner and don't want the tail to swap ends with the front. Problem is that most modern manuals don't have the brake pedal level with the throttle pedal and you need to remember to turn all the electronic rubbish off beforehand.