How to slow down - brakes or down change gears?

chickmug

This was subject to a family discussion as to how to drive when approaching a junction or roundabout or just generally slowing down.

Interesting to find some change down the gears 5-4-3-2 to rely on slowing down by using the engine and save wear on the brakes. However others felt this was silly and said you need to anticipate the road ahead, brake then change down to the gear you feel you will need so could be 5-3 or 5-2.

So is one way better or in fact does the law say anything it?

Barneysmom

The law doesn't say anything but I can't see why anyone would go through the entire box to slow down?

shandypants5

I think you should use both ways,

Under normal "easy" driving you should rarely NEED the brakes and engine braking would be enough to controll your speed exept for complete stops at junctions.

In faster traffic, emergencies, or around town you may need to stop start more quickly and thats what your brakes are for.

I try to drive as smoooothly as I can for economy reasons, but if someone runs out in front of my I wouldnt hesitate to stomp on the brake!:D

turtlemoose

hmm I was taught by my driving instructor to come down through each gear in conjunction with braking.....and was told by my instructor it not only saves wear and tear on the brakes, but results in a more 'controlled' stop. Not sure if that is true tho, but I have always done it that way!!!

chickmug

Barneysmom wrote: »

The law doesn't say anything but I can't see why anyone would go through the entire box to slow down?

I am male and feel that going down through the gears is silly. Interesting though it was the men doing as I do but all the females doing the down through the gears?

chickmug

shandypants5 wrote: »

I try to drive as smoooothly as I can for economy reasons, but if someone runs out in front of my I wouldnt hesitate to stomp on the brake!:D

Even if it reduced your MPG;)

Volcano

In the good ol' days when brakes heated up, 'faded' and stopped working, driving lessons instructed you to change down the gears, using the engine braking to assist the brakes.

Now it's taught the 2nd way you mentioned, as brakes are far more reliable and efficient on modern cars.

'Saving wear on your brakes' is not a very realistic idea; brakes and discs are cheap compared to your clutch or gearbox.

shandypants5

Of course the modern way the younguns are driving is this.

Accelerate thru the gears,
Heavy braking before the corner.
Handbrake during the cornering.
Accelerate out of the corner up thru the gears.

and repeat.:rolleyes:

Rikki

turtlemoose wrote: »

hmm I was taught by my driving instructor to come down through each gear in conjunction with braking.....and was told by my instructor it not only saves wear and tear on the brakes, but results in a more 'controlled' stop. Not sure if that is true tho, but I have always done it that way!!!

Mine too.

Going down the gears brings down the engine revs quicker and under control, in line with the speed reduction made by breaking.



How many times do you end up behind a car in the wrong gear unable to accelerate properly after the car in front of them has turned off.

chickmug

shandypants5 wrote: »

Of course the modern way the younguns are driving is this.

Accelerate thru the gears,
Heavy braking before the corner.
Handbrake during the cornering.
Accelerate out of the corner up thru the gears.

and repeat.:rolleyes:

I don't drive like this so does that mean I am not a youngun?

Perhaps I should and give my friends, family and neighbours a shock. It would give me a shock as well.:j

shandypants5

chickmug wrote: »

Even if it reduced your MPG;)

To be honest... itwould depend Who it was.:D

I don't drive like this so does that mean I am not a youngun?

By yunguns I meant all the 12 year olds that drive the police cars around my town.:rotfl: