Changing Down Gears when Slowing Down and Stopping - Pass your Driving Test Series

The pros and cons of changing down through the gears as you slow down and why most driving instructors don't teach new drivers to do this.

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This video is a guide intended to help people who are learning to drive with a driving instructor in the UK, it is by no means a replacement for driving lessons with an appropriately qualified driving instructor.

Laws and driving rules may be different in your country. The makers of this video cannot be held liable for any consequences caused by any information that is in any way inaccurate, misleading or missing. The makers of this video are not liable for any person's driving other than their own, it is the responsibility of the person driving a vehicle to ensure they drive safely and withing the law. The makers of this video are also not liable for any person failing a driving test as a result of the information provided in the video.

[haywoodjblome]

My driving instructor told me I always have to shift each gear down individually before stopping. This seems a lot more practical and safe, especially starting out

[temarnich]

Hey man I just watched your video and this is the best manual transmission guide video I’ve ever seen . I just got a 6 speed MT Honda Civic Si in the US and I’m just learning how to drive manual transmission. I was having difficulty because I thought I had to change down the gears while slowing down and that would cause me to stall and prevent me from driving on roads other then side streets . I did not know you didn’t have to do that . This video was very useful and I appreciate it . I didn’t know that going down a gear when slowing down is a more intermediate difficulty kind of skill that you learn once you have been driving manual transmission for awhile . Great content man really appreciate it . Thanks again !

[rightstar]

Your video’s are world class
Mate, I’m currently learning how to drive manual and theses videos are helping, keep them coming bruva 👍

[phoenixfeather]

So this guy is why all Europeans know how to drive manual, damn.

[simondegeest]

Finally i found out thats its oke when i downshift to hold the biting point longer then when i just go up in gears. I thougt i was doing that wrong that i need to release the clutch as fast when i go down a gear as when i go up.. but i dont :) thanks so much for this information

[haywoodjblome]

1:28 THANK YOU! My instructor always made me change each gear individually and he made it seem as if it were mandatory. As you said it's not a bad practice to have, but I have no doubt it slowed down my progress a lot in the beginning because it was simply too much for me to focus on

[SAMalsi-yduy]

Omg, that is soo helpful! I always jolt the car whenever I change down gear and the instructor haven't really explained it very well. And now I think I get it now why I have to wait longer when changing down. Thank you! 🙂

[sarjojammeh]

Thanks so much for the various videos about driving manual transmission cars. The videos help me a lot in understanding how to drive a manual car. I spent one week at a driving school and the rest of my training was done through watching your videos and now am a highly qualified driver driving manual cars with confidence.

[hayleyquinnx]

Yes! This is what I learnt also, before that I was faffing about trying to drop down to first before stopping, thinking I'd stall if I wasn't in first at 5mph, instead of stopping completely then changing to first to pull away again.

For some reason my boyfriend had it in his head that this was somehow less efficient, time wise and that it looks like I'm rushing more to change down at the last second ready to pull away again. I think he's got that experience of knowing when you can roll slowly without stopping in certain places where as I'm still more comfortable rolling to a stop and waiting for an opening, like on a road with lots of parked cars and only enough room for one moving car at once.

I had to ask him to stop adding more opinions and things to remember so close to my test when I know this works well and is safe and easy! Last thing I need is to start changing things that are working with less than a week to test! Maybe once I've passed!

Glad to see it's totally normal and encouraged to slow down in whatever gear you're in as long as you've got the clutch down by the time you actually stop, now I can carry on worry free. I definitely do need to get a little smoother on gearing down when I don't intend to stop but I've been watching your videos on that too aha and just have to get my revs right!

[peepeepoo]

Very useful video. The opposite of what I've been taught. From lesson one I've been told to always be in gear 2 when stopping, which in turn means that I had to downshift every single gear when approaching a stop sign.

[jonathanperry]

I'm a new instructor, I find your videos really useful for students between lessons for their bit of homework.
As an ex pilot, I find it up there with professionalism too, many thanks

[cmben]

this video is really helpfull, ive been driving for nearly a year and now i finally get how to shift down smoothly

[moustafa_shomer]

thank you so much for these marvellous videos, I learned so much from your videos, Thank you

[SteelerFanCanada]

Great video. I'm teaching myself how to drive manual and I was struggling with downshifting.

[LouisLouieSZ]

Now I know I'm not ready to practice engine breaking (because I lost focus on the road). I'm practice more with my perception on the road then come back to this skill. Thanks for the video!

[kanebrennan]

Cheers for the tips mate, I passed 12 years ago with LDC. Sunday I got my first car, Monday I drove 140 miles to hike Peak District, Wednesday to 120 to Cannock Chase. Any gear above 1 is easy, just trying to make pulling off less rattly lol

Just got to the end, I remember my instructor teaching engine breaking as the only way to slow down and you should never coast. You should go down the relevant gears to match the speed you're slowing down to, so you are ready to go if needed to.

[PickAShoe]

Thank you for your explanations, they are very helpful.

[bp]

I do this as it actually helps my car to decelerate faster. I recall it save me once from a potential accident.

[Loooooooll]

This was great!!! Every video I watch I take away something I can apply on my next drive. Every time I downshift i always freak because I’m not 100% sure which gear I’m supposed to be in, then by the time I decide I’ve slowed down too much. And it’s never smooth, because I’m letting off the clutch way too fast. Heard more than enough of my fair share of nasty crunching noises because of that. Thanks!!!

[ultiumlabs]

new insight again. really helpful. thanks.