Is engine braking good or bad?
Discussion
When driving Dads (1960)Land Rover to Tesco in Strood
I go around the one way system in top gear (4th)
Indicate and turn left into the side road after the traffic lights (at McDonalds).
I back nearly all the way off the power to start slowing down and follow the bumpy potholed road around to the right.
I change down into 3rd (still slowing) and indicate right to enter Tesco.
Double de-clutch down into 2nd (no synchro) and make the turn into the carpark.
Double de-clutch into 1st and pootle around to find a parking space.
As I was walking into the store I was stopped by another customer (who followed me in) and was informed he had nearly run into the back of me because 'your brakelights aren't working'.
I didn't brake until I was parked as the speed of travel can be controlled easily with the gears.
Did I do something wrong/illegal or was he just following too close?
I go around the one way system in top gear (4th)
Indicate and turn left into the side road after the traffic lights (at McDonalds).
I back nearly all the way off the power to start slowing down and follow the bumpy potholed road around to the right.
I change down into 3rd (still slowing) and indicate right to enter Tesco.
Double de-clutch down into 2nd (no synchro) and make the turn into the carpark.
Double de-clutch into 1st and pootle around to find a parking space.
As I was walking into the store I was stopped by another customer (who followed me in) and was informed he had nearly run into the back of me because 'your brakelights aren't working'.
I didn't brake until I was parked as the speed of travel can be controlled easily with the gears.
Did I do something wrong/illegal or was he just following too close?
Edited by real4star on Saturday 29th December 03:00
Countdown said:
OP - what are h benefits of using gears to slow the car rather than th brakes?
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?sourceid=navclient&a...Follow 'Commercial road' round to the Tesco and its 'Charles Street' enterance. (Its the turn AFTER the traffic lights, traffic upto McDonalds was slow for the lights so I didn't need to slow down for the left turn)
Accelerating faster than 20mph into the narrower section of 'Commercial road' and then braking for the turn into 'Charles street' seems a little... un-necessary on that section, as there are pedestrians and parked cars on both sides of a not very well maintained road.
I'm not sure there are any benefits to my method (maybe a fuel saving related to controlling momentum
) but I feel I have more control.. Edited by real4star on Saturday 29th December 23:10
If I've read this right,
Engine braking and down changing isn't illegal (even if it is showing off), but is frowned upon because it causes confusion.
I should at least push the middle pedal enough to activate the lights.
And right or wrong the bloke behind should have left a bigger gap and been concentrating more (the fact the big yellow Land Rover was getting closer should have given him a clue that I was slowing down surly)
Engine braking and down changing isn't illegal (even if it is showing off), but is frowned upon because it causes confusion.
I should at least push the middle pedal enough to activate the lights.
And right or wrong the bloke behind should have left a bigger gap and been concentrating more (the fact the big yellow Land Rover was getting closer should have given him a clue that I was slowing down surly)
I don't like the idea that other drivers are relying on the brake lights to warn the vehicle in front is slowing down.
What if my lights had been broken and he had run into me?
Would it have been my fault (improperly maintained vehicle) or his for DWDC&A... or would it be a knock for knock accident?
What if my lights had been broken and he had run into me?
Would it have been my fault (improperly maintained vehicle) or his for DWDC&A... or would it be a knock for knock accident?
jaspermolly said:
Is it possible that if proven the op could be open to,Driving without reasonable consideration for other road users.
Jaspermolly.
One of the reasons I posted.Jaspermolly.
Like I said... I don't like the idea that people rely on the car directly in front braking to tell them to slow down. But if that's the way it is I shall adjust my driving style to suit.
I do think about other drivers and what they may/could/should do, but I can't be expected to (shouldn't have to) think FOR them as well surly?
Edited by real4star on Monday 31st December 19:22
^^^ is that why, when you brake hard in some cars (like the Fiat 500) the hazards come on?
I learnt to heel and toe in my Citroen AX when the 2nd gear synchro started to rumble. You can't heel and toe a Series II Land Rover unless you have size 16 feet and legs like tree trunks, the pedals are too far apart as they're designed to be drivable if your wearing wellies and the brakes aren't servo assisted.
HustleRussell said:
OP, if you want to select lower gears when slowing to avoid fighting the engine or shunting about at very low engine speeds (and show your brake lights while you do it), then perhaps heel and toe is worth learning?
I've started resting my foot on the brake pedal just enough to bring the lights on or changing down to third and then braking.I learnt to heel and toe in my Citroen AX when the 2nd gear synchro started to rumble. You can't heel and toe a Series II Land Rover unless you have size 16 feet and legs like tree trunks, the pedals are too far apart as they're designed to be drivable if your wearing wellies and the brakes aren't servo assisted.
Gassing Station | Advanced Driving | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff