I've been driving 'wrongly' for 25 years....

[Welly]

My son has recently started driving lessons and asked me why I changed-down through the gears whilst braking for an obstacle (a roundabout). I was taught to come down through the gears whilst braking to take advantage of the engine braking, save overheating the brakes and so on. To me it 'feels' more controllable being in the appropriate gear at any one time.

In recent years new drivers are taught NOT to change down but rather remain in the gear in which they started braking until just before the car comes to rest (or to a crawl) and then dip the clutch to stop or select a lower gear to carry on. So you could be braking in 5th gear, brake, slow right down and then snatch 2nd just before you move away again.

Doing a bit of googling suggests my method is considered out of date and not applicable to modern cars. It is suggested that the change-down method was due to a few factors that burdened very old cars: drum brakes all-round were poor, non-assisted brakes were common, brakes were not generally suited to the weight of the car and also gearboxes could not take sudden down changes so were 'eased' down one by one. Engine braking was used with the brakes as it were. It seems my change-down method was taught into the late 1990's and then phased out.

There's also a school of thought that (in certain situations) by down-shifting you do not warn others behind you that you are slowing down (no brake lights) and I do do this in fact I pride myself on skilfully slowing right down without the brakes but then the other benefit of changing down is that you're always in the right gear should you then need to accelerate again thus being more 'in control' of the vehicle.

So the teachings now are that gear changes are only required when power is needed to keep the vehicle moving.

What are your thoughts/methods on this?

[markw]

I'm with you on the old school method!
I did an advanced driving test a few years ago which had ex Met traffic officers teaching. They also criticised my 'change down' method in favour of braking only.
I still stubbornly use my original technique.....

[Welly]

I did a race day a few years back and the instructor told me that the police drivers are taught to brake first...then select a lower gear... then brake again....then another gear.... many consider this 'wrong' as you're throwing the cars centre of gravity all over the place and lurching back and forth in between the brake phases. He commented that the criminals used to get away from them because they'd be the ones heal-and-toe braking and always changing down early

[steve_earwig]

I'd have to go for a drive to answer this truthfully. I know that, if I need to slow down quickly to avoid an idiot in a (insert German car make of choice here), I just use the brakes, but if I'm coming to a set of lights which I'm hoping will turn green while I'm still moving I probably shift down. I try to just use the brakes but I reckon it's ingrained in me to downshift. I remember having a "discussion" with mjb a few years back where I put forward the opinion that it's better to use the brakes only as slipping the clutch on the downshifts wears it out and I know which is cheaper to replace. He reckons he can match the engine speed every time so there is no clutch slip.

[puggy]

With you on this one welly , i have always done my braking the way you
explained , also did it like that on motorbikes . I know if i was approaching
a junction i would rather be in the correct gear that was selected by me than
basically freewheeling in 5th . Find a quiet stretch of road and try both methods
and act as though your brakes have failed and see which one slows you down .

[rwb]

I'm also a down-shifter. Passed my test Feb 29th 2006. It definitely feels like I'm more in control. I tend to double-clutch but in my Renault 5 I could shift without the clutch by matching revs -- stopped doing that since I got a proper car.

Presumably these kids coast onto a roundabout in 5th, and either run out of puff and have to change gear while steering, or aren't ready with the power at the exit? Being told to not plan ahead doesnt seem like a good idea to me.

[DaiRees]

It's all us oldies from when brakes were shyte and before the days of ABS innit? I agree, change down method all the way. It feels much safer to always have the car in the right gear for the speed it's travelling.

I know NeilDavies had to do one of those driver awareness courses a little while back and he had a "discussion" with the observer about using the change down method, they too told him he should remain in the same gear as long as possible. Neil's main reason for changing down is that he's trying to minimise the brake dust on his lovely clean wheels though

[Bailes1992]

I also change down as I'm slowing. Reduces wear on the brakes and I think it's safer, if I need to get a move on Ill be at the right revs so when I put my foot down it will go!

[Welly]

Interesting replies! apparently the Driving Standards Agency consider it too distracting to be messing about with down-changes on the approach to a roundabout or junction so best to keep both hands on the wheel; so you are indeed supposed to apply the brakes and then press the clutch just before the engine starts labouring. The way in which Diesels are geared I would not want the engine still engaged in 4th gear at around 1000 rpm as it will be fighting the brakes so inevitably you'd spend the last 20 yards or so 'coasting' which in all other respects of driving means 'out of control'

[Bailes1992]

If changing gear distracts you then you shouldn't be driving! I change gear by second nature without thinking about it. I also double clutch on down changes.

[benczuk]

Had this "discussion" with my instructor when learning in 1999. I was practicing in my Mini and downshifting was practically a requirement. In his Fiesta it wasn't and he insisted I didn't.

So for the purposes of the test I stopped myself downshifting, passed and started doing it again. I have always been of the thought that driving instructors teach you how to pass the test, you only learn how to drive over time...

Downshifting, like much of driving is now so natural I'm certainly not "distracted" by it when approaching hazards. It must save on brake wear, feels more in control and If someone following me can't tell I'm slowing down without brake lights they shouldn't be driving in the first place...

[gumby6371]

I always find it strange how early peoples brake lights come on when approaching junctions or islands.
If you're not tailgating and driving like a dick you should be well aware that the car in front will be slowing as it approaches a junction, island or any obstacle/hazard ahead whether you see brake lights or not.
Other than the sudden need to stop I use engine braking all the time, even more so since I forgot to put any grease on the back of my new pads and they squeal like a pig!
I even tend to avoid 5th to 3rd changes, mainly to avoid putting the extra strain on my ageing gearbox mounts but it does give a very controlled rate of deccelaration and allows me to brake later if at all and avoid the revs dropping too low if I need to get the power on quickly.

Thinking about it while typing, is it a diesel driver thing? would the wider power band of a petrol engined car make a difference to driving style? Not driven a petrol for a few years now.

[jonsowman]

In recent years new drivers are taught NOT to change down but rather remain in the gear in which they started braking until just before the car comes to rest (or to a crawl) and then dip the clutch to stop or select a lower gear to carry on. So you could be braking in 5th gear, brake, slow right down and then snatch 2nd just before you move away again.

I was taught to do this when I was learning and I still drive like this. Passed my test October 2008. I've never really thought about it, nor noticed anyone else (e.g. parents) do it the other way.

I'm sure I'll notice it from now on

[Bailes1992]

I went on a speed awareness course a few months ago.
The guy doing the course said... "We've all been taught to change up as soon as we can to save wear on the engine, but in modern cars you can actually change up at 2000rpm!"

I was scratching my head a bit at that statement. I constantly keep my engine above 2000rpm and try not to exceed 3000rpm. But I have no issue giving it a good pull through the revs once in a whole to blow the cobwebs out.

[Doggy]

As an instinctive 'engine braker' of even longer standing I certainly used to agree, but increasingly I've been following the tips from this scottish youngster....

Jackie Stewart's book Principles of Performance Driving.

Chapter 4
The High Speed Technique.
"On the subject of gear changing techniques, I have always believed that you should take as little out of the car's transmission as possible that obviously means gentle, sympathetic changes when going up through the gears, but also by using the brakes to their maximum when slowing down, often missing gears while changing down through the box. Many people think that racing drivers go all the way down through the gears in a six-speed box like a machine gun. But that means you're taking on a juggling act: steering, operating the pedals, blipping the throttle and using the gear lever like a madman. I always chose to change down by jumping through gears.
........from sixth to fourth to second. That applies to wet or dry conditions, although you need to be careful how you do it in the wet, perhaps eliminating all the down changes, using the brakes to knock off your speed, and then finally slipping from sixth to first gear right at the end. Remember, you are not going to stop any faster by using the transmission. Brakes are made to stop a car, gears are primarily for acceleration. Deceleration was not part of the gearbox's original purpose: don't abuse it. "

Nowadays, I tend to favour 6th, (or 5th) to 3rd approaching roundabouts and the like, so I'm more or less a convert, (however I sometimes wonder how much of this is due to the Pug's clutch pedal being so slow to come back up).

Down hill driving is another exception - I agree the car's more controllable in a lower gear at such times.