Tips For Changing Gears Smoothly In A Car

When people first start taking their driving lessons it is common for them to struggle with many of the tasks that need to be completed in order to drive smoothly and safely. Chief amongst these tasks is the ability to switch gears smoothly while driving. What seems like a simple action actually takes a lot of coordination, as you need to engage multiple parts of your body to pull it off. Over time it will become second nature to you, as your body enters the practiced routine, but if you are struggling at the initial stages try to keep these pointers in mind to change gears smoothly.

Don’t Rush

The main mistake that new learner drivers make when trying to change gears is rushing the process. Many feel that they need to shift up or down their gears as quickly as possible so they can maintain proper control over the car. However, in doing so they may miss steps from the process, which can lead to crunching the gear box or even stalling the car. Understand the process you need to take to make a gear change and take your time while doing it. Engage the clutch, move your hand to the gearstick and slowly make the transition while still maintaining your focus on the road.

Skipping Gears

As you become more adept at changing gears you will find that you can skip them in certain circumstance. The ability to do this is actually seen as a positive by driving instructors, as it shows you are comfortable with changing gears and you understand how they actually work. For example, when building speed on a dual carriageway you can skip straight from second to fourth, making the transition smoother. However, remember that this isn’t something that you have to do so if it makes you feel uncomfortable you can continue to go up and down the gears in sequence.

Check The Gearstick

The motions you need to go through to change gears should be fairly common amongst all vehicles but there are a few things that may be different, depending on the make and model of the car. Most differences revolve around what you need to do to put the car into reverse, so check the gearstick to see where it needs to go. Some will go left, whereas others will go right. Some even require you to hold a button in before you can reach the reverse gear. Remember that you will practically always be in a stationary position when reversing and take your time.

Listen To The Engine

Many also struggle to determine when they need to change gear. The best way to do this is listen to the car’s engine. Over time you will be able to detect when the gear change is needed based on the sounds the engine is making. Your driving instructor will be able to help with this and you should soon find that your engine tells you everything you need to know about what gear you should be in.