Changing gear on level Crossing?

[spikep]

My wife was taught to change gear when going over a train level crossing, the theory was that it smoothed the ride. Anyone heard of this theory?

Background
She was taught this when she learnt to drive in the 80’s by the then Lincolnshire Police driving instructor. Her father had also been the Lincolnshire Police’s senior Road Safety Officer.

My son was arguing that a modern car would not need to do this and that there is more potential for the vehicle to fail during the transition.