Get the Right Gear!

You should aim to:

• Be in the correct gear for every road speed and traffic situation.
• Make all gear changes smoothly.
• Engage a chosen gear without going through an intermediate gear first. (Referred to as Block Changing)
• Know the approximate maximum road speed for each gear of the vehicle.

These key points will help you to make skillful use of the gears:

• Co-ordination of hand and foot movements.
• Recognize when to change gear by the sound of the engine.
• Choose the right gear for the road speed.
• Use the brakes rather than engine compression to slow the vehicle (except during hill descents and when there is a risk of skidding).
• Brake in good time to slow to the right road speed as you approach a hazard, and then select the appropriate gear.
• Match engine speed to road speed before you change down.

Choose your gear with care!