Gearing Down?
Do you use the gears to slow down in k53?
K53 Says:
If the speed of the vehicle increases considerably without application of the accelerator and if continuous use of the service brake is necessary, brake to the appropriate speed before a lower gear is engaged in order to minimise an increase in speed.
Repeat this procedure as necessary.
Avoid selecting a lower gear to assist or replace braking, in order to reduce the speed of the vehicle.
This technically means:
You should not gear down as a matter of habit to slow down when approaching a stop sign or robot.
You SHOULD gear down when going down a very steep hill and if you keep a lookout you’ll see signs along the roads that actually warn truck drivers to gear down. For a car, the impact is reasonably minimal, but for a truck carrying a 36-Ton load it’s critical survival stuff.
Why?
K53 takes more than regulation into consideration. Its focus widens beyond safety and defensive driving.
When using gears to slow the vehicle down a steep hill you minimise the speed at which something can go wrong and you have better control over your vehicle. Should your brakes fail, your car’s gearbox and engine will take the brunt and help lower your speed, IF in an appropriate gear.
Then there’s your poor brake pads that can only take that much before getting worn past recognition and need replacement sooner than necessary. In this case, your gears are your brake pad allies – teamwork for the best effect.
Remember, gearing down in these situations is actually about containing your speed rather than merely slowing down your vehicle.
Real World:
In the “Real World” many, many drivers slow down with their gears and perhaps your parents have questioned the K53-gearing issue?
Other drivers slow down with their gears to economise on their brake pad wear and although this is very possible, some actually miss the point if they do it roughly as this could just spread the wear to other parts such as the gearbox, connecting rods and crankshaft in the engine…and some other stuff.
It’s much like over-inflating tyres to try and save fuel, but needing to replace tyres more often due to excessive wear concentrated in the middle of the tread width. Mostly a sad compromise.
Gear down all you want later, at own risk – but for licensing the K53 Way….DON’T as a habit.
