Eco Safe driving
Discussion
This is quite alien to me tbh as I was always taught to be in the right gear at the right time, thus changing down the box on the approach to a junction to slow yourself down.
Now DSA examiners look for you to be in the highest feasible gear and to proceed right up to a junction in 4th and then drop straight into 1st.
And you block shift; 1st to 3rd; 3rd to 5th for example and the same down the box when you stop.
Rolling up to the junction in a high gear I personally think makes you approach with too much speed.
The reason is to save fuel by not revving the engine and to also preserve the life of the engine but I think labouring an engine in too higher gear can use as much fuel and must be less kind to an engine.
They also say that you should never go over 3k rpm whilst doing the above.
I'm going to have to teach people to drive this way of course as they fail their tests but I don't necessarily agree that it is the safest and most economical method of driving.
Does anyone here use the Eco Safe method and do you think it is good and why?
Now DSA examiners look for you to be in the highest feasible gear and to proceed right up to a junction in 4th and then drop straight into 1st.
And you block shift; 1st to 3rd; 3rd to 5th for example and the same down the box when you stop.
Rolling up to the junction in a high gear I personally think makes you approach with too much speed.
The reason is to save fuel by not revving the engine and to also preserve the life of the engine but I think labouring an engine in too higher gear can use as much fuel and must be less kind to an engine.
They also say that you should never go over 3k rpm whilst doing the above.
I'm going to have to teach people to drive this way of course as they fail their tests but I don't necessarily agree that it is the safest and most economical method of driving.
Does anyone here use the Eco Safe method and do you think it is good and why?
You've not done any advanced training in the last 20 years then 
In short: off power, brake, off brakes, block change to select correct gear...
Overlapping ignored in this post
Block up change I've never taught or been taught so that's a new one on me.
As for the rev bit...no wonder nobody can overtake if they're taught not rev
Not revving your modern diesel will clog it to buggery as many people find out when the DPF etc fails.
Cars need a good Italian tune up from time to time...
In short: off power, brake, off brakes, block change to select correct gear...
Overlapping ignored in this post
Block up change I've never taught or been taught so that's a new one on me.
As for the rev bit...no wonder nobody can overtake if they're taught not rev
Not revving your modern diesel will clog it to buggery as many people find out when the DPF etc fails.
Cars need a good Italian tune up from time to time...
Edited by Six Fiend on Thursday 31st May 23:08
Triumph Man said:
Six Fiend said:
You've not done any advanced training in the last 20 years then
In short: off power, brake, off brakes, block change to select correct gear...
Overlapping ignored in this post
God that sounds backwards... *opens can of worms*In short: off power, brake, off brakes, block change to select correct gear...
Overlapping ignored in this post
Six Fiend said:
What order would you choose for a down change for a turn then?
Depends on the turn, if its a 4th gear and foot down turn then that. (from 5th)If it were a 3rd gear turn I'd go from 5th straight to 3rd.
If it were a 2nd gear turn I'd probably go down to 4th on the approach, brake and then go from 4th to 2nd to make the turn.
Block gear changing has been taught by most long before the DSA (along with every other government body) went all eco! There are plenty advantages to it. I take it you are now preparing for pt2? If you have a decent trainer then discuss it with him/her. If you are with a national "become a driving instructor, earn 30k, no experience needed" college then best of luck.
If the trip computer in my car is to be believed, at 40mph on a level-ish road there's negligible difference in fuel consumption between fourth, fifth or sixth gear. You need to drop to third to get it using more fuel. Generally anything that feels right, is right, at least in terms of driving economically.
Slowing down it's not going to be injecting fuel anyway, so I've no idea what trundling all the way up to a roundabout in fourth buys you. Maybe the eco hats at the DSA are worrying about the fuel that might be burnt matching revs on the downchange but surely you'd waste more by not being in the right gear to take advantage of an opportunity, and thus having to come to a complete stop more often.
Slowing down it's not going to be injecting fuel anyway, so I've no idea what trundling all the way up to a roundabout in fourth buys you. Maybe the eco hats at the DSA are worrying about the fuel that might be burnt matching revs on the downchange but surely you'd waste more by not being in the right gear to take advantage of an opportunity, and thus having to come to a complete stop more often.
Eddh said:
davepoth said:
Plainly
Clutch in, shift to neutral, clutch out, blip, clutch in, shift to gear, clutch out, while braking.
I'm refreshing for a re-test at the moment (
) and it really is a bit daft.
What? You realise your car (most likely) has gear syncros yes?Clutch in, shift to neutral, clutch out, blip, clutch in, shift to gear, clutch out, while braking.
I'm refreshing for a re-test at the moment (
) and it really is a bit daft. Timberwolf said:
Slowing down it's not going to be injecting fuel anyway, so I've no idea what trundling all the way up to a roundabout in fourth buys you. Maybe the eco hats at the DSA are worrying about the fuel that might be burnt matching revs on the downchange but surely you'd waste more by not being in the right gear to take advantage of an opportunity, and thus having to come to a complete stop more often.
It's nothing to do with saving fuel.It's very simply reiterating the 'correct' driving technique that has been taught by DSA and adnvanced instructors for many, many years - as someone said above, gears to go, brakes to slow. As my driving instructor eloquently put it, it's a damn site cheaper to replace brake pads than a clutch assembly...
Anyone struggling with the concept would do well to read through a copy of Roadcraft before revisiting this thread and the AD forum.
Worth mentioning that, while there is a box for "Eco-Safe Driving" on the test sheet, the gear you select to approach a junction makes not a single s
t's worth of difference how much fuel you're burning.. All modern cars shut off fuel on the overrun, so slowing down at no load at 4k in second is no less eco-friendly than doing it at 1500rpm in fifth.
And yes, if you never rev an engine properly or use more than half the throttle travel you are going to cause problems for yourself..
t's worth of difference how much fuel you're burning.. All modern cars shut off fuel on the overrun, so slowing down at no load at 4k in second is no less eco-friendly than doing it at 1500rpm in fifth.And yes, if you never rev an engine properly or use more than half the throttle travel you are going to cause problems for yourself..
Block shifting can be very useful imo! It's used more for downshifting, but can also be applied to upshifts in certain scenarios.
For example, my car will do about 45mph in first gear when at the limiter (8650rpm or so.). I came out of a junction the other day and had misjudged how fast the car that I pulled infront of was going. In order for me to not cause him to brake or potentially cause an accident, I gave it the beans in 1st upto the limiter, shifted into 3rd and applied some more throttle until I got upto 55mph or so, and then slotted into 5th and continued on my way. Most other people would of went 1st to the redline, then through all the other gears.
For example, my car will do about 45mph in first gear when at the limiter (8650rpm or so.). I came out of a junction the other day and had misjudged how fast the car that I pulled infront of was going. In order for me to not cause him to brake or potentially cause an accident, I gave it the beans in 1st upto the limiter, shifted into 3rd and applied some more throttle until I got upto 55mph or so, and then slotted into 5th and continued on my way. Most other people would of went 1st to the redline, then through all the other gears.
To be honest I've found I get best economy when driving smoothly but still using reasonable revs etc as opposed to 'eco'; 37-38 mpg average over33-34 average. It feels more natural for the car too although it is an old carb'd Astra, so maybe it's different for modern fuel-injected cars??
The title made me think of something.
The eco shift indicator on VAG cars is absurd, I hate being in so high a gear for the road speed that should I lift off the throttle, I can't lose more than 1-2 mph before the idle torque carries the car along.
Most people lift off the throttle before they react to apply the brake, the sensation of the car 'pushing' you along even after having lifted off is very unnerving and in my opinion less safe overall. The very minimal improvement in CO2 and/or economy isn't worth it, I'll stick to a more common sense gear choice.
I'm also convinced the shift indicators are not properly tuned for some models, on some of their cars they are damn near determined to stall you whenever possible.
The eco shift indicator on VAG cars is absurd, I hate being in so high a gear for the road speed that should I lift off the throttle, I can't lose more than 1-2 mph before the idle torque carries the car along.
Most people lift off the throttle before they react to apply the brake, the sensation of the car 'pushing' you along even after having lifted off is very unnerving and in my opinion less safe overall. The very minimal improvement in CO2 and/or economy isn't worth it, I'll stick to a more common sense gear choice.
I'm also convinced the shift indicators are not properly tuned for some models, on some of their cars they are damn near determined to stall you whenever possible.
Six Fiend said:
Triumph Man said:
Six Fiend said:
You've not done any advanced training in the last 20 years then
In short: off power, brake, off brakes, block change to select correct gear...
Overlapping ignored in this post
God that sounds backwards... *opens can of worms*In short: off power, brake, off brakes, block change to select correct gear...
Overlapping ignored in this post
. I tend to brake and change gear at the same time. Shoot me. Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff