Unit 2 - Guide and control vehicle

These are the skills you need to accurately drive and position the vehicle on the road:

1. Manoeuvre the vehicle

2. Manage the accelerator

3. Manage the brakes

4. Manage the steering

5. Use the gears

6. Use accelerator, brakes, steering and gears smoothly and together.

You must be able to do these manoeuvres:

• straight reversing;
• reversing left and right;
• parallel reverse parking (from left and right sides);
• parallel forward parking;
• angle parking 45° and 90° (from left and right sides); and
• U-turns, including 3-point turns.
  To do all these, there are some things you must do.

2.1.1. Make the manoeuvre legal.

Making it legal includes:

• how and where you stop
• where you park.

Read Drive Safe page 3.4.

2.1.2. Before you start the manoeuvre check in the mirrors, signal with the indicators and check the rear blind spot.

• To give other drivers enough warning, you need to signal at least 30 metres before you stop to park.div align=
• The indicators should flash at least three times.

2.1.3. Check that the manoeuvre is safe.

• Look over the whole area where the vehicle will go during the manoeuvre, and then check that it is safe to continue.div align= You should not get in other road users' way any more than you have to while you are manoeuvring.

2.1.4. Select the right place to start.

• Move to a starting position that suits what you want to do.div align= For example, approach a forward angle park so that you can get in with the smallest possible number of movements.
• In parallel parking the starting position is between a half and one metre out from a vehicle that is already parker. Remember, don't get in other people's way if you can avoid it.

2.1.5. Keep watching.

• You may use the mirrors to help you. But don't adjust the mirrors on the passenger's side while you are manoeuvring.
• You may look in more than one direction while you are manoeuvring, but you must look in the right direction at the right time. For example, when you are doing a reverse parallel park, you must check that as the front of your vehicle swings in, it will clear the parked vehicle in front.

2.1.6. Control direction and speed precisely.

• While you are performing the manoeuvre the vehicle has to go the way you want it to.
• The movements must be steady and smooth.
• Keep the speed slow enough so that you can compensate for any mistakes you make.

2.1.7. Place the vehicle accurately at the end of the manoeuvre.

• Do not touch the kerb or ride up on it. The number of car movements each manoeuvre should take are as follows:
• reverse parallel park - three;
• forward parallel park - one;
• angle park - one;
• U-turn - one; and
• three-point turn - three.

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2.2.1. Move the accelerator smoothly on and off to change speed.

• 'Smoothly' means in small movements. When you use the accelerator it should not jerk the people in the vehicle.

2.2.2. Use the accelerator to keep a steady speed.

• On a level road you must be able to keep a steady speed for a certain time by adjusting the accelerator smoothly.

2.2.3. Use the accelerator to deal with a hill.

• When you meet a hill - up or down - where you don't need to change gears, you need to be able to adjust the accelerator to keep to the same speed.

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2.3.1. Brake efficiently.

• Use the brakes as the main means for slowing the vehicle.
• Use the brakes mainly while the vehicle is travelling straight.
• Choose the best part of the road surface for braking.
• When going down hills use the engine braking to help the vehicle's brakes.
• Do not skid.· Vary the brake pressure according to changes in the road surface.

2.3.2. Brake smoothly and steadily.

• Brake gently at first, and then apply pressure smoothly until the vehicle is slowing as much as you want. Just before stopping, ease off the pressure (to avoid jerking your passengers), and then ease the pressure back on.
• Use your right foot on the brake pedal.

2.3.3. Stop accurately at a point.

• Vary the brake pressure to make the vehicle come to a steady stop.
• The vehicle must stop within one metre of the chosen stopping point.

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2.4.1. Steer smoothly making the vehicle go exactly where it should.

• Steer with both hands unless you are using other controls.
• Don't grip the wheel any tighter than you have to.
• Sit so that you can properly control and operate the vehicle.
• When you are steering and 'straightening up' the vehicle, it should always be going exactly where it should. For example, if you are letting the steering wheel slip through your fingers, the car has to keep following the correct path. Use the steering method that best suits you, but you should always be able to turn the wheel further if you have to.

div align=2.4.2. Steer an accurate course when driving in a straight line.

• Steer with both hands unless you are using other controls.
• The hands should be outside the wheel with the palms on the rim at about the ten to two or quarter to three position. Don't grip the wheel any tighter than you have to.
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2.4.3. Steer an accurate course in curves.

• Steer with both hands unless you are using other controls. Don't grip the wheel any tighter than you have to.
• When steering through a turn or curve, sit so that you can effectively control and operate the vehicle.

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2.5.1. Change gears smoothly.

'Smoothly' means that changing gears does not jerk the passengers.

• You must be able to finish selecting a gear in 5 seconds or less. (Time this from when you first move the clutch pedal to when you have fully released it again.)
• When you change to a lower gear, smoothly match the engine speed to the road speed.
• If your vehicle is an automatic, avoid 'kickdown' by using the accelerator gently, and by selecting a lower gear yourself before you need it.

2.5.2. Use a suitable gear for the speed and driving conditions.

'Suitable' gear means the engine is not over-revving or straining.

• Pick a gear that will not cause the vehicle to skid.
• Select the gear before you need it, for example before going down a steep hill.(You do not always have to select gears in 'gearbox order'.div align= For example, you can go straight from 5th to 2nd if necessary.)

2.5.3. Change gears mainly while the vehicle is travelling in a straight line.

A gear change is not over until you have released the clutch pedal.div align=

• This means you should also release the clutch pedal while you are still travelling in a straight line.div align=
• At an intersection or curve you should not change gears while you are turning the steering wheel.div align=

You may change gears in a turn only if you are not turning the steering wheel at the same time and if the gear change does not unbalance the vehicle.div align= You may sometimes need to do it this waydiv align= when you are turning at intersections.

2.5.4. When changing to a lower gear, get the speed right first.

• Adjust your speed so that when you change gear it does not jerk the vehicle, or make the engine over-rev.
• Slow down first using the brakes before you change gear.

2.5.5. When going down hills, select a suitable gear

• A 'suitable gear' here is one which can help with braking if necessary.div align= It can also mean that you do not have to use the brakes too hard, or for too long.

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2.6.1. When braking into a turn, ease off the brake pressure to suit the increasing steering load.

• If you are putting the brakes on firmly as you come into a turn, you must ease off the braking as you start turning the steering wheel, so that the tyres can have enough grip to steer.

2.6.2. When you are holding the steering steady in a turn, keep the speed steady.

• This means that the vehicle does not accelerate much.

2.6.3. When driving out of turns, accelerate to match the steering straightening up.

• Steering should be reducing as the car accelerates.

2.6.4. Adjust steering, braking and acceleration to variations in the road surface.

You should be able to adjust smoothly, and the vehicle should be able to safely handle major changes in speed or direction.

It will be unsatisfactory if:

• your adjustments jerk the passengers in the vehicle;
• you ask too much of the tyres (obvious noise from the tyres); or
• the tyres are about to lose grip.

2.6.5. Combine braking and gear changing efficiently.

• Brake, and change gear, mainly while the vehicle is travelling straight.
• The action should not jerk the passengers. div align=
• Finish each gear change in a reasonable time.
• The engine speed does not go too high as you finish selecting the gear.
• The wheels are driving again before you do any steering.

2.6.6. In turns and on poor surfaces prevent automatic transmissions from 'kicking down'.

Use the accelerator gently.div align= You can also change manually to a lower gear before a turn or a bad surface.

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