B+E Licence test

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  • ADP1963
    ADP1963 Forum Participant Posts: 1,280
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    edited January 2016 #32

    About 4 years ago I went on a Defensive Driving Course, I couldn't beleive how they did not want me NOT to use the gears when breaking or coming to traffic lights. The reasoning was pads were cheaper than gearboxes. When I said I towed a caravan the instructer
    replied that does not change things!. Needless to say I took away and use the good things and there were many,but even though I tow with an automatic I would never not use gears on slowing down with a manuel gearbox.  

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited January 2016 #33

    I only ever use the brakes to slow down ratyher than coming down through the box but mostly I try to anticipate and just take the foot of the gas and then select the appropriate gear to pull away again if a change is required.

  • ADP1963
    ADP1963 Forum Participant Posts: 1,280
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2016 #34

    I only ever use the brakes to slow down ratyher than coming down through the box but mostly I try to anticipate and just take the foot of the gas and then select the appropriate gear to pull away again if a change is required.

    Write your comments here...I hear what you are saying CY, but what if you were going down a steep hill, would you not come down the box then?.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited January 2016 #35

    About 4 years ago I went on a Defensive Driving Course, I couldn't beleive how they did not want me NOT to use the gears when breaking or coming to traffic lights. The reasoning was pads were cheaper than gearboxes. When I said I towed a caravan the instructer
    replied that does not change things!. Needless to say I took away and use the good things and there were many,but even though I tow with an automatic I would never not use gears on slowing down with a manuel gearbox.  

    Even motorways have signs that say to select a lower gear on the down hill sections.

  • JillwithaJay
    JillwithaJay Club Member Posts: 2,485 ✭✭
    500 Likes 1000 Comments
    edited January 2016 #36

    About 4 years ago I went on a Defensive Driving Course, I couldn't beleive how they did not want me NOT to use the gears when breaking or coming to traffic lights.
    The reasoning was pads were cheaper than gearboxes. When I said I towed a caravan the instructer replied that does not change things!. Needless to say I took away and use the good things and there were many,but even though I tow with an automatic
    I would never not use gears on slowing down with a manuel gearbox.  

    I was also given the same explanation by the Police Driving School instructors years ago but I was also taught how to bring a vehicle to a standstill with gears only, in the event of a brake failure.

    300 siggy photo 6b161378-22ab-47bd-97dd-22af5e8f67ba_zpsbtkpqljt.jpg

  • ADP1963
    ADP1963 Forum Participant Posts: 1,280
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2016 #37

    Molly...................XX  Winking

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited January 2016 #38

    Molly...................XX  Winking

    Embarassed Wink

    You do know I'm actually Molly's Daddy ... Innocent

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited January 2016 #39

    How do we know that. You're just a grey cardboard cutout.

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2016 #40

    About 4 years ago I went on a Defensive Driving Course, I couldn't beleive how they did not want me NOT to use the gears when breaking or coming to traffic lights. The reasoning was pads were cheaper than gearboxes. When I said I towed a
    caravan the instructer replied that does not change things!. Needless to say I took away and use the good things and there were many,but even though I tow with an automatic I would never not use gears on slowing down with a manuel gearbox.  

     ..so did they want you to use gears or not use gears, ADP? I've always use a combination of both or which ever method seems most useful or appropriate for the situation or conditions. Must admit mind that slowing down using gears alone does not illuminate
    the brake lights which can be useful to those behind you!

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited January 2016 #41

    How do we know that. You're just a grey cardboard cutout.

    You'd not want a picture of me ..... too frightening Cool

  • ADP1963
    ADP1963 Forum Participant Posts: 1,280
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2016 #42

    Molly...................XX  Winking

    Embarassed Wink

    You do know I'm actually Molly's Daddy ... Laughing

    Write your comments here.. I know that!,it was meant in appreciation of support.  Laughing

  • ADP1963
    ADP1963 Forum Participant Posts: 1,280
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2016 #43

    About 4 years ago I went on a Defensive Driving Course, I couldn't beleive how they did not want me NOT to use the gears when breaking or coming to traffic lights. The reasoning was pads were cheaper than gearboxes. When I said I towed a
    caravan the instructer replied that does not change things!. Needless to say I took away and use the good things and there were many,but even though I tow with an automatic I would never not use gears on slowing down with a manuel gearbox.  

     ..so did they want you to use gears or not use gears, ADP? I've always use a combination of both or which ever method seems most useful or appropriate for the situation or conditions. Must admit mind that slowing down using gears alone does not illuminate
    the brake lights which can be useful to those behind you!

    Write your comments here...They did not want me to use the gears and creep up to traffic lights keeping the car going. I know what your thinking, how can you creep up to traffic lights without changing down unless you roll up with the clutch dipped. As I
    said I came away with what I thought was the good things,the rest I left on the table.

  • Biggarmac
    Biggarmac Forum Participant Posts: 364
    100 Comments
    edited January 2016 #44

    Gears are for going, brakes are for stopping.  Thats the mantra I got years ago.  However its difficult to change the habits of a lifetime.

  • ADP1963
    ADP1963 Forum Participant Posts: 1,280
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2016 #45

    Gears are for going, brakes are for stopping.  Thats the mantra I got years ago.  However its difficult to change the habits of a lifetime.

    Write your comments here..Yes I remember those Manta's their brakes were rubbish as well!. So if you have brake failier which is not common now but can happen, do you wind your window down and throw your anchor out. The right gear the right time...........helps.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited January 2016 #46

    ..... I know that!,it was meant in appreciation of support.  Laughing

    Wink

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2016 #47

    .....Yes I remember those Manta's their brakes were rubbish as well!.  ....

    Both my Manta & Cavalier Coupe's  were fantastic Kiss

  • MattyMayo
    MattyMayo Forum Participant Posts: 38
    edited January 2016 #48

    I took (and passed!) my B+E test last month. It cost £335 (which included the £110 test fee) for the whole morning training with the test immediately after. I thought it was a bargain really, but I also think it's terribly unfair that others don't have to
    do it. I missed the 1997 automatic B+E entitlement by 1 year.

    Rather than viewing it as a 'towing test' it's better to think of it as a full car driving test, but you just happen to have a trailer on the back, if that makes sense! Driving the car competently and safely is the primary concern of the test which means
    the trailer is consequently well positioned/controlled. Therefore, they aren't specifically testing for 'towing'.

  • Metheven
    Metheven Club Member Posts: 3,987 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2016 #49

    I took (and passed!) my B+E test last month. It cost £335 (which included the £110 test fee) for the whole morning training with the test immediately after. I thought it was a bargain really, but I also think it's terribly unfair that others don't have to do it. I missed the 1997 automatic B+E entitlement by 1 year.

    Rather than viewing it as a 'towing test' it's better to think of it as a full car driving test, but you just happen to have a trailer on the back, if that makes sense! Driving the car competently and safely is the primary concern of the test which means the trailer is consequently well positioned/controlled. Therefore, they aren't specifically testing for 'towing'.

    ... and if you didn't miss it by one year, you would still have paid the money and done the test?

  • ADP1963
    ADP1963 Forum Participant Posts: 1,280
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2016 #50

    .....Yes I remember those Manta's their brakes were rubbish as well!.  ....

    Both my Manta & Cavalier Coupe's  were fantastic Kiss

    Write your comments here...When I had my Manta I was only a Wipper Snapper,the Cavaliers ( and there were many,being a Sales Rep) were in my opinion twice as good even though the cars came from the same stable.Perhaps I had a duff one.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2016 #51

    .....Yes I remember those Manta's their brakes were rubbish as well!.  ....

    Both my Manta & Cavalier Coupe's  were fantastic Kiss

    Write your comments here...When I had my Manta I was only a Wipper Snapper,the Cavaliers ( and there were many,being a Sales Rep) were in my opinion twice as good even though the cars came from the same stable.Perhaps I had a duff one.

    I was a young wipper snapper too ..... the Cav Coupe & Manta were the same car ...... apart from the slots in the 'grille' of the Manta, just badge engineering Happy

  • Aspenshaw
    Aspenshaw Forum Participant Posts: 611
    500 Comments
    edited January 2016 #52

    Using the brakes activates your brake lights so those behind you know you are slowing. It may be obvious your are slowing but given the attentive span of some drivers, a little extra clue is not a bad idea. 

     

     

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,860 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2016 #53

    Surely driving a vehicle is not exclusively about slowing by brakes or by gears but a conbination of both depending on the circumstances? If you can see a speed limit some way up ahead, changing down a gear or two will make sure you are at the correct speed
    as you enter the speed limit. If you come round a bend and immediately see a speed limit you don't have much choice but to use just the brakes? How you slow down is very much a case of how you are reading the road ahead and planning how you might slow down
    in various situations. Whilst I may appear to be making the case for using gears to slow down you do have to do it in sympathy with the engine. Do people listen to engines anymore? Clearly if the situation demands a quick slow down it has to be brakes but
    there are lots of times where a slow down can be achieve much more smoothly by dropping down through the gears progressively.

    David

  • MattyMayo
    MattyMayo Forum Participant Posts: 38
    edited January 2016 #54

    I took (and passed!) my B+E test last month. It cost £335 (which included the £110 test fee) for the whole morning training with the test immediately after. I thought it was a bargain really, but I also think it's terribly unfair that others don't have to
    do it. I missed the 1997 automatic B+E entitlement by 1 year.

    Rather than viewing it as a 'towing test' it's better to think of it as a full car driving test, but you just happen to have a trailer on the back, if that makes sense! Driving the car competently and safely is the primary concern of the test which means
    the trailer is consequently well positioned/controlled. Therefore, they aren't specifically testing for 'towing'.

    ... and if you didn't miss it by one year, you would still have paid the money and done the test?

    .... I definitely wouldn't have paid to do the test if I already had the entitlement, but the lesson beforehand was helpful. I suppose it would be cheaper to take a CC towing course if you already have B+E on your licence but I didn't have the choice.

  • ADP1963
    ADP1963 Forum Participant Posts: 1,280
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2016 #55

    Surely driving a vehicle is not exclusively about slowing by brakes or by gears but a conbination of both depending on the circumstances? If you can see a speed limit some way up ahead, changing down a gear or two will make sure you are at the correct speed
    as you enter the speed limit. If you come round a bend and immediately see a speed limit you don't have much choice but to use just the brakes? How you slow down is very much a case of how you are reading the road ahead and planning how you might slow down
    in various situations. Whilst I may appear to be making the case for using gears to slow down you do have to do it in sympathy with the engine. Do people listen to engines anymore? Clearly if the situation demands a quick slow down it has to be brakes but
    there are lots of times where a slow down can be achieve much more smoothly by dropping down through the gears progressively.

    David

    Write your comments here...Correct,you drive ahead,not just in front.