Do you change down gears before stopping at traffic lights?
- Thread starter Thursday guy
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http://www.drivingtesttips.biz/block-gear-changing.html explains it in more detail
swansonj
Guru
One of my pet hates: believing that a car engine, an exquisitely engineered device for driving a car forward, is better to use for slowing a car down than the brakes, devices engineered for ... err ... slowing a car down.
Another of my pet hates: believing that the average driver should always be in the best gear to accelerate if needed, so that in the event of the inevitable gang of terrorists in a black van opening fire, they are perfectly placed to accelerate away, zig zagging successfully between random terrified pedestrians and taking the next two corners at 70 mph on two wheels. The average driver (like me) should not be encouraged into a mind set where accelerating out of trouble is at the front of their mind; they should be encouraged into a mindset where their first reaction is to get to a stop as quickly as possible.
Another of my pet hates: believing that the average driver should always be in the best gear to accelerate if needed, so that in the event of the inevitable gang of terrorists in a black van opening fire, they are perfectly placed to accelerate away, zig zagging successfully between random terrified pedestrians and taking the next two corners at 70 mph on two wheels. The average driver (like me) should not be encouraged into a mind set where accelerating out of trouble is at the front of their mind; they should be encouraged into a mindset where their first reaction is to get to a stop as quickly as possible.
I used to negotiate a busy, long and narrow 5-way, traffic-light crossing on an uphill (pic) . Changing down was essential, but one time, I forgot. As was grinding uphill at 5mph, the lights changed and a car came driving towards me from the rear quarter. I instinctively hammered the pedals under the effect adrenaline and felt something snap in my knee. It took years to recover fully from that injury.
I am now a smug and happy hub-gear user and if I forget to change before stopping, I just change whilst stopped.
I am now a smug and happy hub-gear user and if I forget to change before stopping, I just change whilst stopped.
I think he is referring to stop, sharp deceleration or a turn where you know that you should be taking it at 2nd etc. its called block gear changing. Pointless going thru all the gears and let the engine brake do its thing.
Tanis8472
Guru
Yeah, i think you probably right. I may have mis-read the post.
There is nothing wrong with block changing, I do it.
Besides, riding a motorbike you must go through the gears or you will be stuck in a higher gear clunking and banging trying to get to first while stationary.
I've heard from a lot of folk that they are taught to coast to lights out of gear on the brakes.
Tanis8472
Guru
BTW i have read and use Roadcraft maual that the police use 
I was actually taught in my driving test specifically not to do this - the engine will only stall if you come to almost a complete halt and then try to pull off, otherwise being at lower revs isn't a problem. According to my driving instructor, driving in a higher gear than the speed needs (e.g. 4th or 5th gear for 30mph) actually means the car uses less petrol because you're using less revs... thereby saving both money and the environment, hurrah. Also sparing the gears on the car.
Often when I'm slowing down to a junction I just disengage the gears completely and coast in on the clutch.
Of course if you want to pull away, manoeuvre or suddenly accelerate you then have to change, but if you're just driving along normally and aren't intent on overtaking people, then that's how they teach it now... or at least when I did my test in 2009!
raleighnut
Legendary Member
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Changing down through the gears in a car whilst slowing used to be necessary when cars had non-synchromesh (crash) gearboxes, if you didn't do it then you would not be able to select another gear until stationary. This also went hand in hand with double de-clutching.
Also people who have ridden motorcycles are in the habit of changing down through the gearbox when slowing, especially when turning left into a side street. Far better technique than the car drivers who turn left and then are forced to change down after the turning or 'lug' the car along with the engine 'pinking' its nuts off before they decide they should really be in 2nd gear.
Also people who have ridden motorcycles are in the habit of changing down through the gearbox when slowing, especially when turning left into a side street. Far better technique than the car drivers who turn left and then are forced to change down after the turning or 'lug' the car along with the engine 'pinking' its nuts off before they decide they should really be in 2nd gear.
Can help save fuel though by lifting off and using a bit of engine braking
Mix of both is best surely - the average driver should hopefully be able to assess the situation and react accordingly rather than just stopping dead at the first sign of trouble. As far as "always being in the best gear to accelerate if needed" I don't think that's quite relevant to this discussion, if you're cruising along then obviously select the most efficient (probably highest) gear. Here its more about coming up to a roundabout for example, slow down to see whats going on but perhaps have 2nd gear engaged ready so you can come off the brakes and go straight away if its clear, rather than seeing a gap, then having to faff around with gears and cutting it a bit fine, or what I see often - people turning out of junctions and then are clearly still in a high gear and crawling along presumably rattling their teeth out at 500rpm
TheSoulReaver03
Active Member
Damn, stop comparing motorized vehicles to a bicycle.
TheSoulReaver03
Active Member
It's easy. Just send me 600$ through my PayPal account and you'll know.
you have an "engine" that works best at certain revs and a choice of gears, I think its relevant
TheSoulReaver03
Active Member
But those few seconds until you get up to speed don't really matter, except if you're in top gear.
On a bike I agree, often it doesn't really matter if you're just doing your own thing but often I'm in town or a situation where getting back up to speed makes life easier - mixing with traffic, turning out of junctions etc so I'd rather be in a gear that helps me up to speed quickly, and is easier on my knees - similar to the point about car engines labouring inefficiently at low revs.
