Braking with the gears what ridiculous practice

newlywed

I was taught to use combination of engine and brakes. That was only in the 90's so not soooo long ago.

The first car I drove after passing my test was an older car with no servo on the brakes so perhaps it's different there. The next had servo but I've had no car with abs until last year. Again, perhaps that changes with abs.

My dad is a mechanic and said that if your brakes ever failed completely then that's what you'd do to control the car and come to a stop. He also said it's better to go lower gear downhill to keep speed down rather than wearing through your brakes.

Guess it might depend on what type of cars you learned to drive in and what braking technology they had.

Inactive

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers! wrote: »

You are wrong. Slowing a vehicle on ice using gearchanges will result in instability, possibly causing the rear end of the car to swing around and a subsequent loss of control.

Using the brakes applies force to all wheels, not just those wheels that are driven, and changing gear while braking just means that the driver is less capable of correcting any loss of control with the steering wheel.

Correct, as advised by the DSA, the people that conduct Driving Tests, that is what they teach to Driving Examiners and others at Cardington.

That is the preferred option on a Driving Test, as it is an an I.A.M. Test / instruction.

Idiophreak

Inactive wrote: »

Correct, as advised by the DSA, the people that conduct Driving Tests, that is what they teach to Driving Examiners and others at Cardington.

That is the preferred option on a Driving Test, as it is an an I.A.M. Test / instruction.

Any links to support this?

I was always taught to avoid braking whenever possible on snow/ice...

tomstickland

On snow/ice then braking, which slows all 4 wheels will give better results than engine braking, which will normally only slow 2 wheels.

I went down a very steep hill in the snow last year. I had my foot on the clutch the whole time, and gently applied brakes. As soon as the car started to slide then I took my foot off the brakes, then reapplied them. I'd have hated to have ABS under such conditions.

pookienoodle

I drive an automatic what should I do?

pault123

tomstickland wrote: »

Control of the vehicle at all speeds. If you plan far enough ahead you can slow down with very little braking. Personally I tend to use engine braking + brakes and blip the throttle on the downchanges to bring the engine rpm up to match. I enjoy the challenge.

Braking in neutral is bad practice, at least have it in a gear.

I agree with this plan well ahead and change when revs match.

The main thing is coming up to lights which you know are on red and going through every gear instead of using brakes, ok one gear change from 5th to 4th if its 100 metres off or so, but changing through the entire gear box at every red light

Oldernotwiser

pookienoodle wrote: »

I drive an automatic what should I do?

Be bloody thankful you don't drive a manual!:D

tomstickland

I took note of the sequence I used on my way home.


turning onto a T junction, 60ish down to 15-20.
5th, 4th, 3rd, then used brakes as well as engine braking to take speed down to 20mph, into 2nd when a few m from junction, then pulled away in 2nd

turning left off a Y junction, 60ish down to 50ish (in middle of countryside, good vis)
5th, 4th, 3rd, slight dab on brakes approaching corner, then throttle round corner.

JDMYOFAN

BBC: What a contradiction.

I obey another eco-driving edict - not to brim the tank, as this adds extra weight and reduces fuel efficiency. I pump in 35 litres (the tank holds 40). £41.26 - painful, but not as bad as before.

In the interests of science, I have decided to drive in my usual manner to Sussex, then eco-drive back to London

Instantly the 'eco-driving' has the advantage of a lighter car, the only fair way would have been to fill the car up until it clicked (once), then fill it up again for the second leg until it clicks.

!!!!!!.

Oh, to save weight, try this


And to the whole gear/vs engine braking, both is the only sensilbe way.

It's dumb changing down all the gears to stop suddenly, sensible if you see it from quite a distance.

pavlovs_dog

im having my last few lessons before i sit my test, and have been taught to read the road so that i can use engine breaking wherever possible.