Driving Lesson Notes #5: How to operate a car (starting, stopping, speed control, steering etc…)

I will cover both automatic and manual cars.

a) How to start a car:

Manual:

POM: Prepare to move, Observe (safety) and Manoeuvre (to correct position)

1. Press clutch & select 1st gear
2. Rest hand on handbrake, reach biting point (press accelerator pedal whilst slowly release the clutch until you hear the engine tone drops then keep both feet still)
3. Observe safety: Check left door mirror, interior mirror, look ahead, right door mirror, right blind spot & signal lights to road user if necessary.
4. Release the handbrake & Return to the steering wheel.
5. Then slowly release the clutch pedal up completely whilst gently press the accelerator gas pedal.
6. As the car moves, check the interior mirror and right door mirror. Steer 1 meter from the kerb. Press more accelerator gas pedal to increase speed if need be.

NB: Before operating the car, carry out the cockpit drills.

Automatic:

Before operating the car, carry out the cockpit drills. Starting the car requires following the procedure called POM – Prepare (to move), Observe (safety check) and Manoeuvre (to correct position).

i. Prepare:

1. Turning on the keys whilst holding the brake pedal (w/ right foot) – the first turn will ignite the electricity and turning the key all the way will activate the engine.
2. Hand on the steering wheel
3. Change the gear from Park [P] to Drive [D] or Reserve [R] (whilst holding the brake pedal)
4. Release the hand brake (whilst holding the brake pedal)
5. Turn on signal

ii. Observe:

1. *6 point check and signals*

iii. Manoeuvre:

1. Final check moments before moving
2. Release the brake pedal and the car will automatically start moving/creeping
3. Press on the accelerator pedal to pick up speed (NB: start slowly by gently pressing on the accelerator)
4. *cancel signal*

NB: Do not launch the car from standstill by revving the car whilst shifting gear from Neutral [N] to Drive [D]. This cause wear and tear damages to the bands and clutches of transmission.

*****

1. Put your right foot on the left-hand pedal (the brake) and push down
2. Start the car by twisting the key or pressing start button
3. With your foot still on the brake, move the shifter to ‘D’ (if you want to drive forward) or ‘R’ (if you want to reverse)
4. Lift your foot off the brake, this will cause most automatic vehicles to ‘creep’ forwards
5. To gain speed, gently press your right foot down on the right pedal (the accelerator)
6. Once moving, the gearbox will select the correct gear for the situation and do all the hard work for you

b) How to stop/brake an automatic car:

Manual:

There are a number of ways to brake. Here is the list:

Method 1: More braking power

• Brake then clutch

Method 2: Less braking power (use when rev are low and going up hill)

• Clutch then brake

Method 3:

• Slight brake, clutch and then brake

Stopping on the road:

Follow the MSM routine: Mirrors, Signals and Manoeuver routine

• Mirror: Check interior and left door mirror.
• Signal: Use signal lights to road user if necessary.
• Manoeuver (if slow and in 1st Gear):
  1. Press Clutch
  2. Then foot break
  3. Then apply the handbrake and select neutral gear. Cancel signal if applied one. Take foot out of the pedals.
• Manoeuver (if other gear):
  1. Gentle press foot break to bring car to stop.
  2. Before car stop Press clutch fully down.
  3. Then apply the handbrake and select neutral gear. Cancel signal if applied one. Take foot out of the pedals.

Emergency Stop:

• Footbrake
• Push down clutch when just before it stops
• Use handbrake
• Select neutral gear

Automatic:

Here I will cover how to brake smoothly and how to stop the car for different scenarios.

i. How to brake smoothly:

Here are tips to brake more smoothly:

• Learn to press brake pedal smoothly with optimal seating position – read the “pedal control” section
• Understand braking system: dead space, first bite and finishing point etc…
• Improve the skills to estimate/predict braking distance and how much brake to press to get to the stop target
• Have plenty of safe distance to gradually slow down instead of braking abruptly a short distance
• Keep a safe distance when following a car for adequate time to react and brake smoothly
• Driving too fast and with little distance to brake causes harsh jerky brake

Braking process:

1. Look ahead and have enough distance and time to carry out smooth braking: Aim for a longer stopping distance so the brake can be press down more gently and not abruptly.
2. Gentle release the brake
3. Have time for the car to coast if possible
4. Gently and smoothly press on the brake (constant speed from the biting point until the finishing point)
5. Slightly ease off the brake as it creeps at low speed
6. The further press down until complete stop

Practice:

Practice start and braking drill on an empty road or car park. Start with a low speed (creeping) when brake pedal is released, and then lightly and smoothly press the brake pedal to achieve a smooth stop. Continue to practice braking at a higher speed.

As you become more familiar with braking smoothly, you can practice braking with a stop target. It is important to practice safety by doing so in an open space and avoid having objects such as cars, walls, or fences in front of you as it can cause a crash. Perhaps use an invisible line from a side lamp post as a marker.  Do not practice with any objects in front of you such as cars, walls, or fences.

ii. Temporary stop:

Temporary stopping is used in situations such as traffic lights or giving way.

1. Take the foot off the acceleration pedal and hold on the foot brake until comes to a stop. NB: Ensure the foot brake is gently pressed to slow down, ease off the brake when it slows and then further press it down to complete the stop.
2. If you have to wait for some time – you can use the gear Park [P] instead of holding footbrake.
3. To begin to move again, changing the gear to Drive [D] whilst having footbrake on, and then release for footbrake.
4. Press on the accelerator pedal when needed

NB: It is not ideal to stop select neutral and apply the parking hand brake because you risk being unable to move quickly if there is an emergency and risk accidentally revving the car if you forget to change the Neutral [N] gear.

iii. Emergency brake:

1. Release the accelerator pedal, slam the footbrake & hold it (some cars has ABS (Antilock Breaking System) which when activated will cause an uncomfortably vibration as it brakes)
2. Continue with the POM routine

iv. Stop for parking:

1. Take the foot off the acceleration pedal and press on the foot brake to stop in a parking position.
2. Change the gear to Neutral [N] (whilst holding brake pedal)
3. Pull up the hand brake
4. Change gear to Parking [P] (whilst holding brake pedal)
5. Turn off engine

*****

1. As you reduce the speed, the automtic transmission will shift down in gears for you
2. When you’ve finished your journey, press down on the brake pedal until the car stops
3. While stationary, keep your foot on the brake and shift the lever to ‘P’
4. Apply the handbrake (either a lever or button usually next to the ger selector)
5. Then turn the ignition off

In the image above, you will notice two other letters on the gear shifter.

The ‘S’ stands for Sports Mode. This will often lower a car’s suspension, increase the level of sensitivity to the throttle, and increase the speed of the vehicle’s acceleration. The car will often stay in a gear longer to maximise the level of speed.

The ‘L’ refers to Low Mode. This will tell the car to remain in a lower gear for more power and less speed. This will help with towing and steep slopes.

Using hand brakes:

After you park the car

• Step 1: Bring the car to a complete stop.

• Step 2: Press the brake pedal and shift the gear lever into ‘Park’ mode.

• Step 3: Push the button at the end of the lever and begin to pull the lever.

• Step 4: Pull the lever until it feels tense and release the button.

• Step 5: Ensure that you have engaged the handbrake by checking the parking brake light on the dashboard.

• Step 6: Release the brake pedal.

When you are ready to drive

• Step 1: Press the brake pedal.

• Step 2: Shift the gear selector lever into ‘Drive’ mode.

• Step 3: Slightly lift the parking brake lever and press the button at the end of the lever.

• Step 4: Push the lever all the way down and release the button.

• Step 5: Check the dashboard if the parking brake light has disappeared to ensure that you have disengaged the handbrake.

• Step 6: Release the brake pedal and press the accelerator pedal to drive off.

Note: In case of an electronic parking brake, press/pull the button to engage the handbrake. Similarly, press/push the button down to disengage the parking brake.

*****

c) Temporary Stopping & Moving:

Manual:

Used in traffic lights or Junctions

Slowing down:

• Brake to slow down (around ~10mph – 1st gear)
• Clutch and 1 Gear

Stopping:

1. Press clutch and continue to brake fully stop
2. Put handbrake on
3. Change gear into neutral (and release the clutch)

Preparing:

1. Clutch and change to 1st gear
2. Hold on biting point (clutch and accelerator)
3. Safety Check

Moving off:

1. Release handbrake
2. Move off (accelerate)

d) Reversing:

Automatic:

1. Press and hold the foot brake
2. Select Reverse [R] gear
3. Let the gear box creep function to slowly move the car

e) Transmission mode & gears:

Manual:

Understanding Gears:

• Low gear (i.e. 1st Gear): More power but lower speed
• High gear (i.e. 5st Gear): Less power but higher speed
• Use lower gear if you reach the speed you want to continue

How to change the gear:

Change gear when safe place and when you don’t need to use two hands to steer the wheel. Also change the gear according to the sound the engine produce.

1. Ease off (release) acceleration pedal whilst pressing clutch pedal completely down
2. Change gear (use palming method)
3. Return hand to the steering wheel
4. Release clutch pedal in one smooth action whilst pressing gas acceleration pedal

Lowering the gear (for braking):

1. Brake until it’s the suitable speed to change the gear
2. Whilst foot is on the brake, push the clutch down
3. Change the gear
4. If speed is too high then bring the clutch up slowly. If the speed is too low then bring the clutch up half way and give a little gas  and then the rest goes up.

Going up the gear (for speedng up):

1. On the gas to speed up until it’s thr suitable speed to change the gear
2. At the same time “quickly” press the clutch down and release the gas
3. Then change the gear
4. “Slowly” bring the clutch up half way until biting point and hold, and then give it a little gas and hold
5. Then the remaining clutch smoothly does up

Automatic:

When is brake pedal used to shift gear?

The brake pedal is used to shift gear as a safety mechanism prevent the car from moving until brake pedal is released. Also the car needs to be stationary when shifting mode to avoid damaging the transmission. The only few circumstances when brake pedal are used to shift gear are:

• When shifting to or from Park [P]  mode
• When changing between Drive and Reverse

Park:

• Use for parking, stopping to get out of the car.
• This ‘locks’ the transmission, the rear wheels stop moving and it prevents the car from rolling away. NB: you still need to apply the handbrake when parked as well.
• Instruction: If you shift the gear to or from Parking mode, it must be done when the car is stationary with brake pedal on. To move, release the brake pedal for the car to creep and press on the accelerator to increase its speed.

Reverse:

• Use for reversing
• Instruction: If you shift the gear to or from Reverse mode, it must be done when the car is stationary with brake pedal on.

Neutral:

• Neutral mode allows the car wheel to move freely. This can be used when towing the car or pushing the car when it breaks down. However, it is important to do so in flat surface as the free wheel can cause the car to roll down on slopes.
• There is no gear and the engine is not connected to the transmission. This means the engine would rev and not move the car. It is not a good practice to casually use the neutral gear and unless under certain circumstances.
• Although not recommended as the engine is disconnected from the transmission, it will be unable to move forward during an emergency situation.
• Circumstances not to use neutral gear:
  1. Coasting: It is not recommended but can be used when coasting or coasting downhill (changing to neutral gear whilst moving) because when the engine is disconnected from the transmission, it will be unable to move during an emergency situation. It is better to leave the gear on Drive mode to have more control over emergency situation.
  2. It is also dangerous to launch the car forward by revving the car when in neutral gear and letting it go in drive gear.
• Instruction:
  1. Check your manual to see if you are required to use brake pedal to change to or from Neutral mode. Some car does not require brake pedal to change although please check your car manual guide.
  2. Stopping with handbrake: After stopping, change Drive to Neutral then use handbrake – Park mode is preferred over Neutral
  3. Towing: The car should be in Neutral mode for it to be towed – however make sure to check the manual guide
  4. Moving from stopping (with handbrake): press on brake pedal, release handbrake, change Neutral to Drive, and release brake pedal to creep forward
  5. Coasting: Shifting from Drive to Neutral whilst moving – not recommended to coast.

Driving:

• Instruction:
  1. When shifting gears between Driving and Parking/Reverse, the car must be stationary and brake pedal must be used
  2. When shifting from Drive to Low Gear mode, it needs to be done at low speed

Manual mode:

• Manual mode can be used for better control
• We may not have complete control over the manual mode as the gear can automatically change and adjust to prevent damage to the transmission for safety reasons.
• See believe for the function of each gears
• Instruction:
  1. Starting car from Manual mode: From Park [P] shift to Manual mode with brake pedal on. Release brake pedal to move. It should start from the lowest Gear 1. When comes down to complete stop, you also want to the gear to come down to 1.
  2. Changing to manual mode whilst moving: As the car moves, shift gear from Drive [D] to Manual [M]. The current gear will be displayed on the shift indicator. Simply push the lever to the plus position to up shift, or push the minus position to down shift. If a down shift causes the engine RPM to rise past redline, you can expect the system to remain in the current gear and two warning tones will sound.

The function of gears:

General Low & High gear functions:

• Lower gear: For cars that does not have the Low gear [L] function, you can use gear 1  or 2 in the Manual [M] mode. As stated below, the function for Low gear is towing, driving in slippery conditions and steep slopes. Gear 1 & 2 can also be used for starting to move the vehicle, overtaking another vehicle by changing from high gear into low gear by one or more gears.
• High gears: High gear is whatever is the highest shown on the automatic car and sometime can display the sign H. In the manual it is gear 5 and 6. High gear is used when traveling at high speed in main roads, dual expressways, or highways. High gear is also used for conserving petrol by engine to operate more slowly that helps to increase fuel efficiency.

Gear functions:

• 1st Gear (0-10 mph): moving off, maneuvering, creeping slowly in traffic & junctions
• 2nd Gear (10-20 mph): moving off down very steep hills, building up speed after moving away, and driving at a low speed
• 3rd Gear (20-30 mph): used to build up speed and when you need more power for climbing. It also increases your control when going down steep hills and dealing with some bends.
• 4th Gear (30-40 mph): driving at a speed generally higher than 30 mph where there are no hazards to confront
• 5th Gear (40+ mph): gives better fuel economy and is normally only used on open roads when traveling constantly at higher speed.

How to shift gears:

…

Low gear:

• Low gear has greater torque and horsepower. It is used when you need less speed and more power. If the car does not have the Low [L] gear mode, you can use Gear 1 or 2 in the Manual mode.
• Low gear is used when:
  1. Towing: Low gear provides greater power for towing heavy loads.
  2. Steep slopes: Low gear provides more power when going uphill. It also provides more engine braking when going downhill thereby causing less brake overheating & less wear and tear on your brakes.
  3. Slippery conditions: Low gear helps tires to grip the road better and so it is useful when driving on slippery conditions such as on wet, icy or muddy roads.
• Instruction:
  1. From Park [P] to Low gear [L]: shift to Low gear [L] in the similar way you shift from Park [P] to Drive [D] using the brake pedal whilst stationary.
  2. From Drive [D] to Low gear [L]: shift can be used whilst the car is moving, as long as it is at a low speed under a specified RPM as the manual instructed. Most electronic transmission has rev limiters that won’t shift to a lower gear above a certain RPM to prevent damage to the transmission.

• Sports mode allows greater access to the car’s power, and the responsiveness to accelerator, steering, and maneuver capabilities. The Sports mode basically sharpens how the vehicle responds to a driver’s input.
• It does so by increasing the throttle sensitivity,  steering tightness, and increased suspension firness. The increase of trottle sensitivity improves the engine’s response to the accelerator. It also delays upshifts of gears (til a slightly higher RPM) and promote downshifts will help to keep the engine in its band power. Provides gear upshifts and downshifts more quickly at higher engine speeds. The engine speed will be maintained to a higher one and will result to greater power. It increased engine RPM during braking. Provides additional lower gear operation through the automatic transmission shift strategy.  It optimized speed rate performance. It also helps with corning and body roll.
• Caution: With these features, it require full attention and certain skills to use.
• Here are circumstances when Sports [S] mode can be used:
  1. High-speed road: It is mainly only used for faster driving on highways or roads that are wide and clear.
  2. Overtaking: It can be used to momentarily overtake on the road
  3. Moving fast on curves: It can be used if you want to go fast in areas with many curves.
  4. Extreme terrain: useful in hilly terrain or mountainous areas and when roads are uneven. The additional engine braking helps the car to go down slopes and the lower gear helps to the car to climb up slope.

• Disadvantage of Sports mode: Sports mode drains the fuel faster and puts more pressure on the engine. If Sports modes is used often such as when you often drive through the terrain, it is important to carry out routine servicing.
• Instruction: simply shift the gear from Drive [D] to Sports [S] mode and it will display on the dashboard.

Gear:

Your car will not move in any direction. Even when accelerator pedal is press the engine will rev but the car will not move.

Park locks the transmission and is an additional safety feature along with the parking brake to prevent the vehicle from rolling when unattended. Always ensure the vehicle comes to a complete stop before selecting Park, else you may damage the gearbox. See when to use Park in an automatic car for further information.

Reverse gear:

If your car is moving forward, always ensure you use the footbrake to bring the vehicle to a complete stop before selecting reverse, else you’ll be using the vehicle’s transmission to stop the vehicle rather than the brakes. This may cause damage to the transmission.

Neutral [N] gear:

When press the accelerator pedal the car will rev but the car will not move. However the car does not mehcanism that prevents it from rolling and so it can roll down hill or slopes.

Neutral has no gears engaged and unlike Park, Neutral does not lock the transmission. You should select neutral if your car needs towing or if you need to push it. Some drivers select Neutral whilst driving to save fuel and this is called ‘coasting’. Whilst it doesn’t damage the gearbox, coasting is not recommended and it reduces your control of the vehicle. For further information, see why do automatic cars have neutral?

Don’t coast in Neutral with automatic car. Some believe coasting in neutral down hill can save gas but there is little difference of gas used in automatic cars as it automatically cut down fuel supply when going down hill. Also coasting in neutral leaves cars with little control over it as you can speed it up when you need to.

Drive [D] gear: 

Car creep forward without brake

Before selecting Drive, always depress the footbrake first. This will ensure that the car’s creep function will not make the car jerk forwards. You can generally keep the car in Drive, with your foot firmly on the footbrake when stopped in traffic. This does not cause the transmission any harm. If you are stopped in traffic for a longer period of time than usual, you can select neutral and apply the parking brake. This also helps to reduce brake light glare (particularly at night) for the occupants of the following vehicle.

Sports [S] gear:

Give a more sporty and dynamic feel. Leave it in gear longer before it shifts.

Low [L] gear:

Mostly keeps the gear low. Mainly use for when having a lot of weight on the car or towing something. Good for carrying heavy things. It will give you more horse power and tork? But it will limit your maximum speed.

Manual mode:

Most of us simply keep the gear selector lever in Drive (D) and let the transmission choose the appropriate gear. Modern automatic cars use sensors that relay information to a computer, which in turn determines the appropriate gear for any given situation. In general, the computer makes the correct choice, but not always.

As automatic cars have progressed, they began offering the driver greater control by allowing the ability to manually change gears (see why do automatic cars have a manual option). Along with the PRND, there can be various letters, numbers and symbols and these vary depending on the model of automatic car. To some, this can be a little daunting, particularly of you’re not sure what the letters, numbers or symbols mean or when to use them.

When driving normally it is better to select drive [D] gear. However, there are circumstance that using the manual gear function will help.

To use wheel spin on slippery surfaces – pull away on second gear

Driving down on steep hill – choose lower gear than normal to increase engine braking and to reduce the need to brake

Lower gears develop extra power to help pick up speed quickly for e.g. dual carriage way

Manually Changing Gears in an Automatic Car

Most of us simply keep the gear selector lever in Drive (D) and let the transmission choose the appropriate gear. Modern automatic cars use sensors that relay information to a computer, which in turn determines the appropriate gear for any given situation. In general, the computer makes the correct choice, but not always.

As automatic cars have progressed, they began offering the driver greater control by allowing the ability to manually change gears (see why do automatic cars have a manual option). Along with the PRND, there can be various letters, numbers and symbols and these vary depending on the model of automatic car. To some, this can be a little daunting, particularly of you’re not sure what the letters, numbers or symbols mean or when to use them.

How to Change Gears in a Traditional Automatic

Traditional automatics with a manual option has the standard PRND and then numbers such as 321 (PRND321). The numbers represent the manual gears that can be selected. Some automatic cars may have fewer manual gear options such as PRND21.

Older automatic cars only have 4 or 5 automatic forward gears that are available for the transmission to use when in Drive. You can use the manual gears to lock in lowers gears to prevent the transmission from shifting up gears.

Whilst moving along in Drive, you can push the gear selector lever to the right (or left depending on which side of the road you drive on) to select the manual gears.

Fail-Safe System

Most modern automatics have fail-safe systems to prevent potential damage from occurring while driving in manual mode. For example, when driving in manual mode, if the engine speed is too high, the system may automatically change up a gear, or if you stop the car in manual mode, then the gearbox will automatically change down to 1st gear. This is to prevent the engine from stalling when moving off again.

Kickdown

Kickdown is a feature that’s been available on automatic cars for many years now. The process is simple, press the accelerator all the way to the floor and the gearbox will change down a gear without any need for the driver to operate manual gears. This process provides maximum engine power without over-revving of the engine.

For example, when the driver presses the accelerator to the floor, the gearbox control program may change down one or two gears depending on the engine speed.

If the driver attempts to activate a kickdown but the engine is already running at a high speed, to prevent possible damage to the engine, a down shift may not take place. Once the driver resumes normal operation of the accelerator pedal, the program will change up gears.

f) Speed control:

Manual:

To change the speed, please see below (changing gears)

To slow down, use the foot break.

Clutch Control(slipping clutch)

Clutch Control is controlling the speed of the car when moving slowly with the clutch. It is used in slow moving traffic, creep & peep (merging) out at junctions and controlling a car on a hill.

Being able to sense the biting point is crucial. Pressing clutch down slows the car, releasing will speed it up too quick it or would stall.

How to:

Prepare:

1. Press down the clutch fully
2. Select 1st gear
3. Provide engine with little power by gently pressing accelerator so the rev counter reads around 1500 rpm (o rpm when going downhill and usually above 1500 rpm when going up hill)
4. Check it is safe to move

Slowly moving:

1. Very slowly raise the clutch until reaching biting point (when clutch plate starts to meet & car slowly move)

Slowly stopping:

1. Fully press the clutch and gently press on the brake

Slipping the clutch (slowest speed):

1. Give little gas to engine and slowly lift the clutch till the car starts to moves
2. Then press small amount on the clutch (distance of a thickness of a pound coin)
3. As soon as the car slow slightly, lift the clutch slightly (distance of a thickness of a pound coin) to move the car again

Tips:

Note that holding clutch too long will wear it down and releasing too quick it would stall or move to quick.

Clutch Control (Down Hill):

No need for gas or biting point.

Start:

• Clutch then change to 1st gear
• Ready on the break
• Check for safety
• Release hand brake
• Slowly release the clutch (release too quick cause stall or zoom to fast)

Automatic:

This section will cover pedal and speed control. The smoothness of moving off, braking, or adjusting speed is determined by whether we can predict the timing to gradually adjust and how sensitive we are towards pedal control.

i. What are the mistakes a beginner makes?:

Here are some of the mistakes the beginner makes:

• Not understanding how sensitive the pedals are: beginners usually do not realise how sensitive the pedals are and tend to abruptly slam on the brake or pedal, causing jerky or abrupt harsh motion. It is important to realised how sensitive it is and how pressing just a small amount will have a significant impact on the change of speed. Some people imagine adjusting the pedal to the size of the thickness of a pound coin. Although we are not able to accurately press on the distance of the thickness of a pound coin, it gives us an idea of how sensitive the pedals are and how much we need to adjust. Also learners should not wear shoes that has a thick sole as it makes us less sensitive to the pedal.
• Not pressing the pedals smoothly: beginner tends to press on the pedals in a jerky and abrupt way which causes the car to move in a jerky way. It is important to learn how to press on the pedal smoothly with a constant speed from start to the finishing point.
• Not understanding the time delay when pressing the pedal: when pressing on the accelerator pedal there is a time delay for the car to accelerate. The time of delay depends on the vehicle. Some vehicle has a constant rate of acceleration input whereas other vehicle such as those that has turbo has an inconstant rate of acceleration that can escalate randomly. That is why it is important to get to know the time delay of the accelerator.
• Prioritise safe distance: Know it is important to prioritize keeping a safe distance from other vehicles over just focusing on keeping a constant speed limit
• Have a wide peripheral awareness: Do not only focus on checking the RPM speed on the dashboard as you have to also check other aspects such as mirrors, blind spots, road signs, and hazards ahead.
• It is difficult to sense the speed you are driving: a change of speed can be sensed when there is a change but over a period of time we are unable to know how fast or slow we are traveling. The size of the road, how to open the road or in the busy road also influence the sense of speed. It is important to check the speed on the dashboard.
• It is better to be under the speed limit.

ii. Circumstances for major speed adjustment:

Accelerator is mainly used when overtaking other vehicles and a change of speed limit when entering into a different type of road such as a dual carriage.    

Brake pedal are used when giving way, stopping at lights, slowing down when there is a change of road etc…

iii. Optimal seat and foot position:

Your right foot heel should rest on the floor for stability. The foot should be in a position that can freely pivot/move between the brake pedal and the accelerator pedal. The foot must also cover adequate space on the pedal. Having a stable and mobile position can help you adjust the pressure on the pedal and allow you to hold it steadily.

Ensure that the seat is at an optimum distance that allows your foot to rest comfortably on the floor and allows easy pivot or move between the pedals. The seat should not be too far that it causes the leg to be extended which causes the heel to not rest comfortably on the ground. At the same time, the seat should not be too close that it causes the leg to be cramped and the foot to be less mobile or in a position that causes your foot apply too much force on the pedal. So look for that sweet spot that is not too far back or too far forward, gives you a comfortable and stable position to ground your heel on the floor, allows good mobility to pivot between the two pedals, and gives adequate coverage over the pedal.

iv. How to press on the pedals

a) Know the biting point and finishing point:

Brake pedal has a biting point, which is the point where the brake begins to work. Before that point, there is a dead space where brake is not activated. It is important to know the biting point so that your braking can be timed correctly.

It is also important to know the finishing point that you want to reach when pressing the pedal. The degree to how far you press will determine the rate of acceleration or deceleration. Knowing this will help you calculate or predict how you need to press to get to your stop position or speed limit.

After reaching the finishing point such as a slow speed before parking, you can further press the brake pedal to put the car into a complete stop.

b)  Gently & smoothly press on the pedal for a smooth ride:

As you press your pedal to reach the finishing point, do so smoothly and with consistent speed throughout, and try to avoid being too jerky. This allows the acceleration or deceleration to go smoothly. Also, press the pedal gently and slightly.

c) Pedals are sensitive so learn how to make micro-adjustments:

The pedals are sensitive where you are prone to dangerous acceleration or harsh braking. So it requires us to learn how to control how much to press on the pedal to get the rate of acceleration or deceleration we need. Practice how to push the pedal in a distance equivalent of the thickness of a pound coin and hold it there in order to grow accustomed to the nuances of pedal control. This will avoid dangerous acceleration or abrupt braking in a non-emergency situation. Note that under emergency situations, safety is a priority so harsly slamming the brakes under emergency situations is a must.

d) Give time for the accelerator to work:

When you press on the accelerator pedal, it will take some time for the car to start to accelerate. The time it takes for a car to accelerate varies in each models. Most car tends to accelerate in a consistent rate but cars with turbo tends to have a lag before it acceleration spikes up. So take time to understand how long it takes for your accelerator to work otherwise you may over press on the accelerator.

You want to press a bit on the accelerator, hold it there and wait to see how much the car accelerates before making more speed adjustments. With more practice, you will be familiar with how much you need to press to get the desired speed. You will need to practice this with different gears.

v. The importance of safe following distance, looking ahead, estimating, and planning:

It is important to see ahead and have a safe following distance to have enough time to estimate, predict, and decide what to do for a safer and smoother ride. For instance, when the driver in front might turn on the brakes for a brief moment, we have enough time to decide how to respond i.e. to ease off the accelerator or press on the brake pedal. Having enough distance will give us time to respond appropriately instead of just reacting with brakes. This makes the drive smoother.

It is also important to look ahead, so you can plan when to brake or accelerate. The time and distance will allow you to have a more gradual and smoother acceleration or brake. For instance, if you see a junction ahead you will have time to ease off the accelerator, let it coast, and gently work on the brake for a smoother stop.

vi. Learn to adjust speed with throttle/brake control:

Once you are familiar with how to press the pedals such as knowing its biting point, and how to press it smoothly, you can now learn how to adjust the speed via throttle control and when to use the brake pedal.

How to control the speed:

• Know how much to press on the accelerator pedal to reach the target speed (RMP) – also be aware of the time delay it may take to accelerate (get to know how your vehicle responds to the accelerator)
• Gently adjust the pressure on the accelerator pedal to reach the target speed. It is fine if the speed is slightly above or below the speed target as it is difficult to maintain accuracy.
• To slow down slightly, simply ease off the accelerator pedal slightly. You can also use the brake pedal for faster deceleration if necessary. Using the brake pedal will also let other driver knows you are slowing down.
• Considering the distance and the timing will help you decide how you would like to adjust your speed whether to ease off the accelerator or use a brake pedal.
• Learn to hold the accelerator at a constant position – requires practice
• Check the speed regularly. See below on the scanning pattern check.

How to accelerate quickly:

If we need to accelerate quickly and press the accelerator pedal harder the gear box will change up much later to give us more engine power.

How to brake quickly:

When press down foot brake to slow down and stop the cars will change down gears on its own so we always have suitable gear available.

vii. Learn how to maintain constant speed:

Once you adjust the speed, you will want to maintain it. To do so, simply just hold on to the accelerator pedal. Again, for you to hold it with steadily, make sure your foot is in the stable position with the heel grounded on the floor and the seat is in the optimal position so the leg does not hyperextended or cramped.

How to maintain speed when turning:

Whilst turning you want to hover (slightly touch) the accelerator in order to maintain a constant speed. You don’t want to properly press on the accelerator which will increase the speed nor do you want to press on the brake to decrease the speed. You don’t want to be coasting and leaving the brake & accelerator pedals untouched as the car will slow down due to lack of momentum.

ix. Gears in relation to speed:

Here are some information regarding gear in relation speed control:

• Ensure you are in the appropriate gear for the speed
• In low geat it is harder to maintain a constant speed but it is easier to accelerate
• In high gear it is easier to maintain a constant speed as the accelerator becomes less sensitive

How to shift gears

• (…)

x. Conditions that influence speed:

There are circumstances when you need to use the brake or accelerator pedal to adjust to the conditions. Here are the conditions:

• Down slopes: ease/release the accelerator or use the brake pedal when steeper to maintain the speed limit
• Up slopes: increase accelerator to maintain speed
• Wet, icy, or snowy conditions will impact the recommended speed

xi. Scanning pattern and speed check:

Check the speed regularly but not solely focus on it as you will need to carry out other checks. Doing a scan pattern is important to ensure you are checking the speed and situation around you. Scanning pattern check involves looking far ahead in front of the road, checking the center mirror, checking the speed, forward, wing mirrors, and then back to the front.

There are other ways to monitor your speed although it is not something that you focus or activately check. It is just something that you can have in the back of your mind if you can. For instance:

• Sitting straight: when you sit straight you can be aware that there is a change of speed if your body feels like it tilts forward or backwards.
• The rate you pass a marker: You can also have peripheral awareness of the rate you pass markers such as the road marker or the lamp post. A change of rate you pass these markers is an indicator of a change of speed.

xii. Cruise control:

Cruise control is an option to automatically maintain a speed when driving. The advantage is that we can focus on observing and driving safely rather than being preoccupied with constantly checking the speed.

The appropriate situation to use cruise control is when you are driving on a road that has consistent speed without traffic stops and on a speed limit that feels slow. It is not suitable in urban places that require a lot of change of speed and in busy places.

xiii. Practice:

Here are some practices to do. The aim for these practices are:

1. Practice pressing on the pedal gently and smoothly
2. Practice micro-adjustment on the pedals
3. Be familiar with how much to press on the accelerator to achieve a target speed
4. Learn to hold on to the pedal for constant speed
5. Be familiar with the response of different pressure on the pedal including the engine to respond time

a) Practice throttle control by rev-ing up in stationary space:

1. Put the gear in Park [P] and the emergency brake on so that the car won’t move
2. Carry out the following exercises:
   • Be familiar with its biting point
   • Be familiar with the accelerator response time
   • Sensitivity training: learn to press the pedal slightly bit by bit (thickness of a pound coin) and micro-adjustment
   • Learn to press the pedal smoothly: press smoothly with consistent speed from the biting point to the finishing point
   • Learn to reach a specific RPM within 5 seconds: from 1000-2000 RPM using the tachometer (not recommended to go higher than 1,200 rpm in a diesel engine).
   • Learn to reach specific RPM and hold it there
   • Harshly press on the pedal to be familiar with its feel, engine response, and sound.

b) Practice throttle/brake control when driving forward and backward:

This practice involves driving forward and backward in a straight line. This should be practied in an empty car park without any pedestrians around. There should be an open space to avoid accidentally crashing into obstacles such as walls and fences should you fail to brake properly. The car should also be in a low gear:

1. Ensure the car is in low gear: For an automatic car, you want the Manual mode to be in low gear and avoid using drive mode to begin with as it can shift to high gear. For a manual car, keep it in the 1st gear.
2. Simply drive forward and stop using brake. Then reverse and stop using brake. Ensure safety POM are used when moving off.
3. Carry out the following exercises:
   • Be familiar with its biting point
   • Be familiar with the accelerator response time
   • Sensitivity training: learn to press the pedal slightly bit by bit (thickness of a pound coin) and micro-adjustment
   • Learn to press the pedal smoothly: press smoothly with consistent speed from the biting point to the finishing point
   • Practice smooth moving off, maintain speed and smooth braking
   • Learn to reach a specific speed and hold the speed there
   • Learn to micro-adjust: easing of the accelerator
   • Harshly press on the pedal to be familiar with its feel, engine response, and sound.

c) Practice throttle/brake control on the real road:

Try to start with driving on a long straight road so you don’t have to worry about steering too much. The aim of the practice is to try to maintain a constant speed and regularly monitor your speed with the scanning check. So you should be checking your speed every 8-10 seconds. The foremost priority is to keep a safe following distance and when the coast is cleared you can focus on maintaining a constant speed with regular scanning checks.

Once you are confident with maintaining speed on a straight flat road, consider practicing on slopes and hilly places that require adjustment on the accelerator or brakes. Also, practice how to maintain a constant speed when turning which is the roundabout or curvy road.

It is also a good opportunity to practice looking ahead for planning, smooth acceleration, and braking. But try to focus primarily on one skill set at a time which is speed control in this case.

g) Steering:

Automatic:

i. Optimum position for steering:

• Firstly ensure you have an optimum seating position for pressing the pedal (see the Speed Control section above)
• The back of your seat should be able to support your back to sit upright, without leaning too backward or too forward.
• Most steering wheel has adjustable height and distance. A good distance would be when your wrist can reach the top of the steering wheel (at 12 o’clock) with your elbow slightly bent. The wheel ideally should not be obstructing your ability to read the dials. Alternatively, you can consider holding the wheel at the 9-3 o’clock position with your elbow slightly bent (maybe more then 90 degrees) and feeling comfortable.

ii. How to hold a steering wheel:

• Hand position: you should hold the steering wheel at the same height around the 9-3 o’clock position (alternatively 10-2 o’clock position for slightly higher or 8-4 o’clock position for slightly lower). Place your left hand at the 9 o’clock position on the steering wheel whilst the right hand at 3 o’clock. This position is also closest to the windscreen wipers and the indicators.
• Hold the steering wheel with a relaxed grip. This will help you feel the feedback of the front wheel, so you know how much grip the tires have on the road. The thumb should also be out.
• Do not grip the steering wheel too tightly or loosely. Gripping too tight can cause the steering wheel to accidentally jerk. Holding the wheel too loosely may risk losing grip and control.
• You should be in a relaxed posture: your shoulders should be lowered & relaxed, and your elbow near to your body. This helps you to feel less tense, and less fatigued and will help you focus better.

iii. Steering techniques: 

There are various steering methods that can be applied in different situations. I’ll list the method but will not go through out it is done as you can find how to do so on YouTube.

• Guiding: This steering involves having the hands in the 9-3 o’clock position and carrying out small angle steering i.e. driving through the small bends or slightly moving to the side to make space/way for other vehicles.
• Hand-to-hand (pull-push or shuffle) steering: Used for sharp turns. This technique is favored over the hand-to-hand method because it is safer as your hand is not placed in front of the airbag (positioned in the center of the wheel).
• Hand-over-hand steering: Also used for sharp turns. Compared with the push-pull method it is easier & more efficient to steer. However, it is less safe as the arm can be in front of the airbag (positioned in the center of the steering wheel). When the airbag is activated, it will push your arm/hands toward your face causing injury. It will be even more devastating when wearing a watch. It is equivalent to a golf ball at a high speed of 200mph hitting hard into your face or head causing serious damage and even death. However, this technique can be safe if you are parking.
• One-hand steering: This technique involves using one hand to hold the steering wheel at 12 o’clock. This technique is dangerous as it lacks the control. The only few circumstances to use this technique is when carrying out reverse/parallel parking (that requires you to look over your shoulders) or using one hand to operate features in the car (i.e. headlights, windshield, temperature, etc…).

Here are steering techniques to avoid as it is not safe:

• Hook steering: This involves holding the steering wheel on the inside, with an underhand grip and the palms/forearms are facing upwards. This technique has poor control. Also, you risky serious injury if your hand gets trapped inside the wheel during an accident as the steering spins.
• Palming (Wax on wax off): This involves using your palm (usually one hand) to steer the wheel. This is dangerous as you do not have a proper grip on the wheel and so your hand can slip and lose control during a situation such as a bump or accident.

iv. Straighten the wheel:

As part of steering, straightening is the last part of the steering process. Straighten the steering wheel by letting the wheel rotate back to its default position. You can let it straighten by itself (by letting it slide through your hands with a loose grip) or straighten it by yourself (usually by the pull-push technique). It is safer to straighten it up yourself for better control and precision. Also, when traveling at a low speed, the steering wheel may not straighten itself out and in such a situation, you will need to straighten it yourself. Accelerating can also help to straighten the wheels.

Another factor to consider is when is the right time to straighten the wheel. This should be done just before you reach your intended turning direction. By the time you reach your intended turning point, the wheel should already be straightened and the car is ready to go straight. It takes practice to estimate the time it takes for the wheel to straighten so that you can match it in such a way that it will straighten as you reach your target turning point.

v. Steering process:

• Look ahead: Look ahead and focus on the spot where you want to turn to, whilst your peripheral vision can be aware of any situation and hazards. We tend to naturally steer toward the direction we are facing and what we see, so it’s important to focus on the direction and spot where you want to go.
• Steering: Carry out the steering. Through practice, you should have an idea of how much to steer to achieve a certain degree of turn. How much the turn also depends on the speed you are driving at.
• Straighten the wheel
• Adjustments: Whilst or after straightening the wheel, some adjustment may be required.

vi. Reverse steering:

• Steering left will move the car toward to left and steering right will move the car toward the right.
• Using the one-hand steering method so that you can look behind your shoulders when steering

vii. How to accurately steer (by looking ahead in to intended direction):

One of the important issues that is not often discussed enough is the importance of knowing where to look when driving for accurate steering. It is important for drivers to look ahead and focus on the direction and position where they want to be instead of focusing on other aspects such as steering the wheel, hazards, or what is happening around them.

Focusing on the steering process will distract you from accurately reaching your target destination. The human natural instinct is to steer toward what they see or steer away from hazards. These uncalculative reactions will risk putting them in dangerous positions such as driving too near a parked car or not being aware of the other hazard. It is therefore important to focus on driving to a position we want to be in and use our peripheral awareness to scan for other things such as hazards and situations around us.

Here are other tips to improve your steering accuracy:

• Look ahead and use the furthest center point of the lane you can see as a position to aim for.
• Where to look: When driving through curvy roads, you want to drive towards the furthest center point you can see on your lane. When turning in a junction, you want to start looking as you reach the bend and target the center of the lane you plan to turn to.
• Feel as though you are personally moving in that direction. Imagine the car is an extension of your body and you are focused on reaching your planned position and not on the steering process.
• Use the center of your car (or knee that is positioned in the middle of the car)  as a reference point to guide you towards the center of the lane

viii. How to steer smoothly:

• Steer smoothly
• Drive at a smooth speed

ix. What affects the steering:

Speed affects how much you need to steer. Driving at a slower speed requires more steering than at a faster speed.

x. Practice:

a) Practice in the parking lot at a low speed (<10 mph?):

• Slight turn (mimic changing lane or giving way)
• Steer in figure 8
• Steer reverse in figure 8
• Straight left and right (lap around the parking lot)
• Go around in circles
• U-turn
• 3 point turn

b) Practice on the small road and progress to the main road (start with 15 mph and increase?)

• Guiding
• Changing lane
• Straight turn
• How to turn in a roundabout:

c) Practice slopes:

• (…)

d) Practice on the motorway:

• Changing lanes

To know how you drive on real roads such as approaching junctions, giving way, changing lanes, driving in roundabouts, moving off or parking etc… please see the lesson (…).

h) Avoid stalling:

Manual:

Reason for jerky movements:

• When changing gear not at a suitable speed i.e. gear too low for the speed
• Not pausing on the clutch bite point as you lift the clutch

How to gear up smoothly:

1. Slow down: with suitable speed for the gear i.e. 10mph for 1st gear
2. Clutch down > Change Gear
3. Before gently releasing the clutch fully, add a little gas (to make it smooth when turning)

(NB: you don’t need to add gas going up gear as the rev down drop quickly)

i) Avoid skidding:

Manual:

When skipping whilst braking, let go of the foot brake and so tire can grip the road again and then reapply the foot brake again.

Cadence braking:

Should not steer at the same time with cadence braking technique. Use when you have car in full control again

Tips:

Don’t use mirror in emergency stopping as it reduce reaction time:

Automatic:

When skipping whilst braking, let go of the foot brake and so tire can grip the road again and then reapply the foot brake again.

Cadence braking:

Should not steer at the same time with cadence braking technique. Use when you have car in full control again

Tips:

Don’t use mirror in emergency stopping as it reduce reaction time