How to slow down - brakes or down change gears?

maninthestreet

If you attend any training given by the Institute of Advanced Motorists, you will be trained to stop whilst still in 4th gear.

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

Using gears to slow down increases the risk of loss of control, and also increases the wear and tear on the entire drivetrain.

Use the brakes to slow to the speed you require, and then, and only then, change to the appropriate gear.

People who change down through the box to slow down do not know how to drive.

roswell

Brake pads are cheaper than gearbox`s and clutches.

BikerEd

maninthestreet wrote: »

If you attend any training given by the Institute of Advanced Motorists, you will be trained to stop whilst still in 4th gear.

No you won't. You'll be trained to stop in whatever gear you were in as you approached the hazard that forced you to stop. Subtle difference.

save4rainyday

chickmug wrote: »

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?

I was coached by my father,he was a driving instructer in the armed forces.He taught me to go up and down the gearbox,at junctions etc,because you got better car control,mainly because you had less chance of locking your wheels up on greasy or icy road conditions,but I know they teach differently now.Just remember, right gear at the right time.

Sirbendy

Brakes for me, as I drive an auto..:)

AdrianHi

Brakes for stopping gears for going is what I was taught too.
Keeping the clutch engaged and goign down gears is OK but put the braking werar and tear onto the cheap brake pads / shoes. Part of the argument was making sure you cannot lock a wheel and skid, less important on a car with ABS.

derrick

The IAM,(when I did it a few years ago), taught the "brakes to stop/slow, gears to go/accelerate, they had a saying "Can My Safety Be Given Away", (from the police advanced manual, "Roadcraft"), interpreted as; -
C = Course, the course you intend to take, (forward thinking).
M = Mirror, check if it is safe to take that course, (i.e. lane change).
S = Signal, is a signal necessary,(may not as there may be no one about or to who it might be an advantage to).
B = Brake, to the speed you will need to go through the course.
G = Gear, once down to the correct speed for the course, select the appropriate gear to go through.
A = Accelerate, through the course.

The word course can be substituted for the word hazard, which could include parked vehicles a corner etc.

Also that for controlled safe braking, this should be done with both hands on the wheel and in a straight line.

The reason that learners are taught up and down through the gears, is to show the examiner that they can use the gears both ways.

daveyjp

BikerEd wrote: »

No you won't. You'll be trained to stop in whatever gear you were in as you approached the hazard that forced you to stop. Subtle difference.

With the increase in 6 speed boxes this is now not necessarily the case. Coming off a motorway slip road in 6th a change down to 5th is recommended as the high 6th gear can lead to engine labouring too far before you are ready to stop.

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

daveyjp wrote: »

With the increase in 6 speed boxes this is now not necessarily the case. Coming off a motorway slip road in 6th a change down to 5th is recommended as the high 6th gear can lead to engine labouring too far before you are ready to stop.

Changing down through the box risks the back end coming out of line, and a subsequent loss of control. The safe method of slowing is to dip the clutch at the point where the engine begins to labour, keeping both hands on the wheel. Once braking has finished, then you should look to the gearbox.