Changing gear when pulling out
Discussion
When stopped at a T junction waiting to pull out, or stopped waiting to turn into a road, I've got into the habit of changing up from first to second mid turn. Is it better to put on extra revs and change up when the turn is complete and the wheels are pointing straight on the new road? In my driving lessons I was taught first gear is only for setting off, this is the advice which means I'm changing gear when I perhaps shouldn't be.
I've tried hard to write this up in a way which doesn't make it sound like a silly question, apologies if it is.
I've tried hard to write this up in a way which doesn't make it sound like a silly question, apologies if it is.
SoupAnxiety said:
When stopped at a T junction waiting to pull out, or stopped waiting to turn into a road, I've got into the habit of changing up from first to second mid turn. Is it better to put on extra revs and change up when the turn is complete and the wheels are pointing straight on the new road? In my driving lessons I was taught first gear is only for setting off, this is the advice which means I'm changing gear when I perhaps shouldn't be.
I've tried hard to write this up in a way which doesn't make it sound like a silly question, apologies if it is.
If you're needing to kick it hard enough out of a junction that the gear change is needed before you're straightened up, the gap wasn't big enough.I've tried hard to write this up in a way which doesn't make it sound like a silly question, apologies if it is.
A lot of things people get taught as learners are simplified / incomplete / misunderstood.
If what you're doing feels uncomfortable (steering and changing gear at the same time) or is causing problems (need a big gap to pull into), then think about how to fix it.
I'd go with your idea of using more revs in first. The alternative is to accelerate less initially so the revs don't rise as quickly.
If what you're doing feels uncomfortable (steering and changing gear at the same time) or is causing problems (need a big gap to pull into), then think about how to fix it.
I'd go with your idea of using more revs in first. The alternative is to accelerate less initially so the revs don't rise as quickly.
Thanks for the replies. I didn't make it clear in my post but I'm not flooring it, the example would be stopped waiting to turn and then moving off when the road is completely clear. I'll try more revs in first and wait until I'm on the straight. It's the juggling of one handed steering, operating the clutch and trying to rev match. I'm doing it OK but it feels wrong - not smooth and considered.
On my way home from work, I turn right onto a divided road (dual carriageway) with 2 lanes in each direction plus a turning lane and a wide median strip. I almost always short-shift into 2nd leaving the lights, just before swinging into the turn, but that's a slightly different case.
TooMany2cvs said:
If you're needing to kick it hard enough out of a junction that the gear change is needed before you're straightened up, the gap wasn't big enough.
That depends entirely on what the OP is driving and its gearing, Shirley? 
Some vehicles have a 1st so short it's literally enough to get the wheels rolling, especially some diesels and city-car petrols. Some junctions also have a fair old run up before the turn, eg from lights set back on a side road, approaching a give way / slip entry onto a main dual carriageway. In that scenario 1st to 2nd can easily be carried out properly before you even start to turn!OP unless you plan on taking an AD test then whatever works for you and isn't causing issues will probably see you right. On some junctions I stick to the ingrained 'economy' driving and slot straight into 2nd once rolling. When making progress, or in less busy conditions etc I will leave it in 1st until under way and only then change up to get well into the (NA petrol) power band.
Just my .02 and I'm no expert!
rainmakerraw said:
That depends entirely on what the OP is driving and its gearing, Shirley? Some vehicles have a 1st so short it's literally enough to get the wheels rolling, especially some diesels and city-car petrols. Some junctions also have a fair old run up before the turn, eg from lights set back on a side road, approaching a give way / slip entry onto a main dual carriageway. In that scenario 1st to 2nd can easily be carried out properly before you even start to turn!
Just my .02 and I'm no expert!
Was about to say, in my car 1st is really short (about 8mph). I'd say if you can do what you are doing, it's fine (Unless you have somehow caused an incident by it) Some vehicles have a 1st so short it's literally enough to get the wheels rolling, especially some diesels and city-car petrols. Some junctions also have a fair old run up before the turn, eg from lights set back on a side road, approaching a give way / slip entry onto a main dual carriageway. In that scenario 1st to 2nd can easily be carried out properly before you even start to turn!Just my .02 and I'm no expert!
SoupAnxiety said:
When stopped at a T junction waiting to pull out, or stopped waiting to turn into a road, I've got into the habit of changing up from first to second mid turn. Is it better to put on extra revs and change up when the turn is complete and the wheels are pointing straight on the new road? In my driving lessons I was taught first gear is only for setting off, this is the advice which means I'm changing gear when I perhaps shouldn't be.
I've tried hard to write this up in a way which doesn't make it sound like a silly question, apologies if it is.
If there's any chance of coming in to conflict with another road user (i.e. traffic on the road you're tuning onto or across who might have to slow down if you fluff the shift) save the change until you're on the other side of the road. If everything is clear then I'd probably shift into second half way through the turn. I've tried hard to write this up in a way which doesn't make it sound like a silly question, apologies if it is.
You have had to come to a stop at the give way line at a roundabout, (because there's a lot of traffic negotiating around it) you see your space & move off, it's a fairly large roundabout so you have to change gear as your turning.
I'm new to advanced driving & doing my IAM training at the moment, but I would suspect there are time that you have to be flexible in what's appropriate for the situation, like braking on bends on a decline, yes you would change to a lower gear & try brake on the straight parts, but sometimes you have to brake on the bendy part to, sometimes.
I'm new to advanced driving & doing my IAM training at the moment, but I would suspect there are time that you have to be flexible in what's appropriate for the situation, like braking on bends on a decline, yes you would change to a lower gear & try brake on the straight parts, but sometimes you have to brake on the bendy part to, sometimes.
Edited by Mini Spirit on Thursday 14th January 10:12
brman said:
Bigends said:
Complete the turn then gear
Go on then, explain why it is such a crime to change gear at 5mph just because you happen to be going round a corner?It feels wrong to me if one can't vocalise the rationale for an action ("assume"). Surely you've tried different ways and can say what was good or bad, or better or poorer of one over the other?
which is why I argue with such statements. It sounded too much like a mantra rather than anything anyone would adhere to rigidly in practice
brman said:
Bigends said:
Its not - just how I was trained. Assume it was thought you werent in proper control changing gear halfway through a turn
which is why I argue with such statements. It sounded too much like a mantra rather than anything anyone would adhere to rigidly in practice
BertBert said:
It feels wrong to me if one can't vocalise the rationale for an action ("assume"). Surely you've tried different ways and can say what was good or bad, or better or poorer of one over the other?
which is why I argue with such statements. It sounded too much like a mantra rather than anything anyone would adhere to rigidly in practice
Thats how I was taught to drive on my first and subsequent Police courses in the 70's and 80's . Of course I steer and gear now the same as everyone does. I dont double de-clutch on every down change either - as taught. Otherwise I still drive to 'the system' pretty much as taught 41yrs on. brman said:
Bigends said:
Its not - just how I was trained. Assume it was thought you werent in proper control changing gear halfway through a turn
which is why I argue with such statements. It sounded too much like a mantra rather than anything anyone would adhere to rigidly in practice
Edited by Bigends on Monday 18th January 17:46
As far a I am aware in the ad driving scene (IAM / RoSPA etc ) it's acceptable to take a gearchange if the steering is set, so you can be in a turn, but not moving the wheel.
This applies to things such as roundabouts.
For a situation as described by the OP, it would probably be better to get straightened up ideally to avoid rushing things, however you could treat it as a 'brake-gear' overlap, that is, generally avoided but perfectly acceptable if you can justify it.
This applies to things such as roundabouts.
For a situation as described by the OP, it would probably be better to get straightened up ideally to avoid rushing things, however you could treat it as a 'brake-gear' overlap, that is, generally avoided but perfectly acceptable if you can justify it.
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