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slowing down at a junction

3

When slowing down at a junction, say im in gear 3.. do i have to change down gears before i stop? or can i stop completely and then change to 1st gear?

Reply 1

Billa Bong

17

brendanb581

When slowing down at a junction, say im in gear 3.. do i have to change down gears before i stop? or can i stop completely and then change to 1st gear?

at a junction if i'm going at 3rd gear and slow down and go to 2nd just before the junction and have a quick look for cars and if there aren't any i just move off at 2nd without stopping...but if you put the clutch down and break then you don't have to go down the gears and can do that once you are at halt...hope this helped :o:

Reply 2

Millseyn

Nah you don't need to before you stop. However, if you are a learner I suggest you ask your instructor because I can't remember exactly what the examiner would be looking for.

Reply 3

moofie

When coming to T junctions or crossroads you always give way. Its safest to come to a complete stop before you move off at these junctions (so you can get good observations in) so if you are in 3rd gear, gently use the brakes then clutch in and put it into 1st gear before you stop ( put it into 1st gear before you come to a complete stop always). If you're in 4th gear: brake in, then release the brakes, clutch in and put it into 2nd gear and then release the clutch (gear assisted braking), then clutch in and into 1st gear (keep it pressed in) then squeeze brakes again gently to come to a complete stop.

Reply 4

Brooksy22

If you are still a learner then you probably shouldn't change down through all of the gears. The advice that the DSA examiners are told is "one gear change per hazard". They also quite like it if you change up missing out some gears as it helps with "eco safe driving".

Reply 5

crazy_smurf

10

brendanb581

When slowing down at a junction, say im in gear 3.. do i have to change down gears before i stop? or can i stop completely and then change to 1st gear?

It's all about the approach. If it's a closed junction your going to have to stop, so it's best to go from 3rd -> 1st. If it's an open junction and it initially looks like there is no traffic, drop to 2nd, keep assessing the traffic, and act as appropriate.
Hope that helps :smile:

Reply 6

The Procrastinator

15

When I was a learner I would go to 1st, because it just seemed easier! If you say go to 2nd then suddenly you see a car you might forget to change gear before going, like I used to. But if the juction is somewhere where you can see quite easily before you get to the line then yeah stay in 2nd.

Reply 7

Butane

10

Double clutch with heel and toe does the trick.

Reply 8

MALIK HAMID

11

crazy_smurf

It's all about the approach. If it's a closed junction your going to have to stop, so it's best to go from 3rd -> 1st. If it's an open junction and it initially looks like there is no traffic, drop to 2nd, keep assessing the traffic, and act as appropriate.
Hope that helps :smile:

Yeah do this :smile:

Reply 9

acp11

11

Butane

Double clutch with heel and toe does the trick.

Ha!

Reply 10

Flibbles

10

Depends entirely on the situation - if you can see for miles in either direction then just slow down to a speed appropriate for the area and continue.

If you're on a side road trying to join a main road slow right down - if you can barely see anything then stop completely. If it's safe, continue.. assuming there isn't a STOP line/sign (crossing this without stopping first is an automatic fail) most are give way lines though, and you don't need to stop completely.

If I'm in a new area (or unsure) then I tend to just roll up to a line with the clutch down, then I select a gear depending on whether I'm stopping or not. 2nd if I'm not, 1st otherwise.

Reply 11

Advisor

8

For those who intend to stop - however briefly - and engage 1st gear, why do you need to wait for the car to completely halt before changing the gear? Not only is it hesitant and wastes valuable seconds where you may be presented with an opportunity to proceed, but you'll find that 1st gear can be difficult to engage when all moving parts are stopped. In addition, a lot of junctions have a slight gradient so if you completely stop and aren't already in the right gear, you can't catch the biting point at the right time and will have to waste more time yanking the handbrake and missing gaps, or worse, rolling backwards.

When the car has reached a very slow rolling speed, engage the gear whilst looking sideways at the traffic (not at the gearstick). This will give you confidence to release the footbrake and hit the gas if you see it's safe to go. There is no need to completely come to a halt unless you're at a solid stop line placed in conjunction with an octagonal STOP sign. Of course, if it's busy and you're forced to stop for a while, then by all means use the handbrake to stabilise the car while you find the bite point ready to go. Always be ready before your gap arrives.

Practise this skill and become smooth at it before you attempt a driving test. A good place to practise is at roundabouts and mini-roundabouts as the view is usually better there. The technique will work with most 'give way' junctions.

Reply 12

TomInce6666

10

Butane

Double clutch with heel and toe does the trick.

Lmao.

Reply 13

Megaross

16

Nope, block changes are fine on the test.

Reply 14

Suzanathema

13

If you slow down through the gears it wears out the gearbox sooner, which you probably don't care about in the instructors car but you will when it's your own. Better to use the brakes than change down through the gears.

Reply 15

michael321

14

brendanb581

When slowing down at a junction, say im in gear 3.. do i have to change down gears before i stop? or can i stop completely and then change to 1st gear?

On your test stop completely, handbrake on, then neutral (unless you can continue safely w/o stopping). In real life, change down the gears; if it's a red light, you may as well start slowing a fair way away, just change down and do some engine breaking, if you're lucky the lights will change before you've stopped.

Reply 16

DeeWave

13

"Brakes to slow, gears to go!"

Gears should be used to power the vehicle. Only change into a gear if you're ready to use it. The best practice is to use the brakes to slow the vehicle towards a stop, press the clutch down just before the engine shudders to prevent stalling and then engage first gear ready to move away. If in doubt with regards to the right time, press the clutch too early rather than too late. In the situation you describe, second gear wouldn't be needed.

Hope that helps :smile:

Reply 17

iqraarzau

2

If you are stopping at lights for example you need to put the car back into first gear as to start moving again a slower speed is required. If you attemt to move of in a higher gear the car will stall as the engine plates will not be touching. Also if you are turning whilst lights are green you can take it in second you only really need to go to first is when turning from a main road to a side street or if there is traffic and you have to wait at a junction before going. If at any time at a junction you stopor go below 12mph you will have to go into first. Also when taking a junction in 2nd do not use gas untill you have full turned and are positioned correctly.
Hope this helps xx