Gears at Junctions

[foxtrotmike]

I have just completed a set of refresher runs with my IAM group and one of the main issues that came up, and never could really get my head around is use of gears at Give way Junctions.

The Observer was happy in general with my drive overall from day one and we were just applying polish, gear selection was good but could be better if you see what i mean.

When approaching a junction thats blind or perhaps on an upward hill he asked me to select 1st, in the past I have aimed for 2nd and has generally ok, but did agree with him that use of first would of given better control, the other aim was to ensure that my clutch is up and in the right gear before crossing the give way line (assuming i haven't stopped).

Now to get into 1st Gear in this scenario i have to slow loads more before the junction, this seems to hinder progress but pays off with better control.

The problem seems to be that my box wont let me into 1st unless im doing 12mph or less (10 mph comfortably) and therefore It just seems impossible to achieve all this together, whilst achieving brake gear separation, make sensible progress and avoid double gear selection and double braking at junctions.

But i must say that at some very busy junctions it has paid dividends as I have been able to get out quickly.

Any assistance gratefully received.

[foxtrotmike]

So does that mean i can shift into 1st at a higher speed, ie say 20mph?

[foxtrotmike]

omegac said:

You're right, it shows how outdated some elements are, i.e. try and come to a stop in a diesel from a high gear without dipping the clutch earlier than used to be acceptable when all we had were petrol cars on courses.

And it also seems, and proves your point that to Double De-Clutch is very outdated

Sometimes I think that the 2nd gear in my car is quite versatile and ideal for most applications I currently wonder what the real pay back is.

[foxtrotmike]

SK425 said:

You mentioned a couple of things (control and being able to get moving more quickly) that you perceived as benefits from using 1st gear. Was there a cost somewhere that outweighed the benefits?

To be honest I haven't realised any benefit or cost of changing the method yet but im keen to try it even though its not been sold to me yet.

The cost though as i see it at the moment is the fact of potentially 2 brake and 2 gear shift applications before the junction and the earlier brake and slower approach which is perceived to be hindering progress.

That said the desire to have the clutch up and settled before passing the give way line actually seems more beneficial to me at this moment in time.

[foxtrotmike]

The more i think about this the more i think my gear choice is generally ok, i just maybe late in applying the system meaning the clutch is not up before passing give way, and i think im going to focus on this part of if before thinking again about gear choice, i may kill birds with one stone anyway.

Its useful to know that perhaps if i need to apply a first gear that the junction would require a double phase, and of course in queuing traffic at a junction that would be classed as two hazards and hence two applications of the system.