Changing Gear
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As you become more practiced at moving away and stopping, so you will pick up speed. Eventually you will find the engine is making rather a lot of noise, but the car isn't going as fast as you wish! This is when you need to start practicing changing gear.
Here's how to change gear when the car is moving. This lesson assumes you are familiar with the palming method of gear changing.
Move away in first gear, as in the move away section of this lesson.
When the car has picked up sufficient speed (your supervisor should help you with this), take your right foot off the gas pedal and push the clutch pedal all the way down with your left foot. This should be done as one movement, not one after the other.
With the clutch still pressed down, change gear from first to second.
Now smoothly raise the clutch pedal all the way up and press the gas pedal a little.
You are now in second gear.
When you have picked up enough speed, go through the same routine to select third. When you have enough experience and the road is suitable, you can do this all the way up to fifth.
Changing gears
Changing down the gears is slightly different. Lets assume you are driving in third gear and you want to change to second.
First, slow the car to the correct speed for second gear (your supervisor will help you with this).
When you are at the desired speed, push the clutch pedal all the way down.
Select second gear. Raise the clutch slowly all the way up. You can continue braking or apply a little gas whilst you are raising the clutch depending on the speed and control you require.
Practice changing up and down the gears on a quiet road to help you gain confidence.
Don't change down gears to help the car slow down, always use the brake pedal to reach the required speed, then select the appropriate gear.
When changing down, it's ok to skip gears if you require - even fifth to first if necessary! For example, if you are travelling at speed on a dual carriageway and approach a roundabout, you may find you need to stop to give way to traffic from the right. It's ok to use the brake to slow the car down then, just as the car is about to stop, push the clutch all the way down and change gear from fifth to first to be ready to move off again.
As mentioned elsewhere in this course, it is old time thinking to use the gears to help slow the car down. It's not necessary with modern cars and uses more fuel. But lots of blokes like to do it because they think it makes the engine sound cool!
