Gear

"Gears to go, brakes to slow!"  That is our rule – and for good reason too. The use of a ‘downchange’ in certain conditions can make the driven wheels of the car lock-up and cause a skid.Remember too, that brake pads are cheaper than clutches and gearboxes, so unneccessary downchanges are to be avoided.

Advanced drivers learn to think about using the correct gear to suit their current speed and the likely hazards to be found on the section of road they are using. For most cars, ‘third for thirty’ and ‘fourth for forty’ are useful rules of thumb.

Advanced drivers with automatic gearboxes also learn to use some of the alternative settings This can help to give more control of the vehicle.