mathew Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 slow down using the gears instead of the brakes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesmark Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 Are you retarded? No it is not illegal, you are taught this when you learn to drive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merckx Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gruggs Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 short and concise answer to the question me thinks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homer Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 Of course it's not illegal, but if you did it in a way that was of a danger to other road users then thats a whole other matter. I am curious why you asked this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guigsy Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 no. Its a driving technique. You slow down/control with the gears (or should do) when your going down a steep hill. Has someone told you it is? I guess your brake lights don't come on. But if you follow that logic if you don't have a foot on anything you still slow down and you have no brake light on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamesy W Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 slow down using the gears instead of the brakes? Are you retarded? No it is not illegal, you are taught this when you learn to drive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedM Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 slow down using the gears instead of the brakes? One for the files I reckon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mathew Posted April 5, 2009 Author Share Posted April 5, 2009 Are you retarded? No it is not illegal, you are taught this when you learn to drive. that was my initial thought on the subject (not me being retarded)i should have gone into a bit more detail. to set the scene....you are being tailgated and are approaching a junctoin/roundabout and instead of braking you drop down a gear or two. the guy behind you goes into the back of you and he complains that there was no notice of you slowing down i.e. brake lights. its to settle a dispute on another forum that im having and the other party is coming up with a lot of legal bumf to why it is illegal to carry out said action. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Havard Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 Great thread..!! It's only illegal if you are going uphill..... H. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesmark Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 that was my initial thought on the subject (not me being retarded)i should have gone into a bit more detail. to set the scene....you are being tailgated and are approaching a junctoin/roundabout and instead of braking you drop down a gear or two. the guy behind you goes into the back of you and he complains that there was no notice of you slowing down i.e. brake lights. its to settle a dispute on another forum that im having and the other party is coming up with a lot of legal bumf to why it is illegal to carry out said action. Well tell the guy on the other forum he is retarded. The only time someone gets off from rear ending someone is if the guy he hit is convicted for drink/drug driving iirc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angarak Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 It doesnt matter if your brake lights are on or not, if the person behind you is not giving themselves enough room to safely brake without hitting you its their fault. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merckx Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 I'm not sure if nowadays you're taught not to change down the gears to give engine braking to slow the car down. RAC website The brakes are for slowing the car and the gears are for getting you going! This technique is better, easier and safer because you can concentrate on your road and traffic observations; you can keep both hands on the steering wheel for longer; and there's less wear on the engine, gearbox and clutch. Sometimes you may need to use block changes. This is where you miss out one or more gears. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbleapple Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 that was my initial thought on the subject (not me being retarded)i should have gone into a bit more detail. to set the scene....you are being tailgated and are approaching a junctoin/roundabout and instead of braking you drop down a gear or two. the guy behind you goes into the back of you and he complains that there was no notice of you slowing down i.e. brake lights. its to settle a dispute on another forum that im having and the other party is coming up with a lot of legal bumf to why it is illegal to carry out said action. Potentially I suppose they could argue about the lack of brake lights as an attempt to limit their liability (contributory negligence i.e. the driver in front braked suddenly or gave no warning of braking) but it would be a pain to try prove that the brake lights didnt work etc and it would only limit liability (i.e. the award of damages) not remove liability all together. This would be civil law though and not criminal so illegality is irrelevant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Todd Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 Are you retarded? No it is not illegal, you are taught this when you learn to drive. And there goes the coffee all over my monitor Please link to this thread, sounds like great reading Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 slow down using the gears instead of the brakes? You're a bit late for April fools! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RED_ROCKET Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 i prefer to put my fogs on then they slam on the anchors and you drive off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrRalphMan Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 Which is fun the first couple of times, then they suss you.. You actually brake and they slam into you anyway.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homer Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 i prefer to put my fogs on then they slam on the anchors and you drive off If you were spotted doing that you'd be putting yourself at risk of being done for dangerous driving. There are better ways of dealing with moron drivers. After years of getting pissed off with tailgaters in my T67 I ended up doing the sensible thing and slowing right down, and just letting them past when it's safe to do so. No need to endanger yourself or other road users for the sake of a prat driver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 If you were spotted doing that you'd be putting yourself at risk of being done for dangerous driving. There are better ways of dealing with moron drivers. After years of getting pissed off with tailgaters in my T67 I ended up doing the sensible thing and slowing right down, and just letting them past when it's safe to do so. No need to endanger yourself or other road users for the sake of a prat driver. You only had the one turbo then though Darryl. Us guys with two turbo's have the upper hand there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeoFuture Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 they dont teach that not, its considered inappropriate to use engine braking !!! i was taught old fashoned way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 they dont teach that not, its considered inappropriate to use engine braking !!! i was taught old fashoned way What? When i was learning to drive i was taught to use the gears, as engine braking was a very important part of slowing down the vehicle. Coasting (driving with the clutch depressed or in neutral) was deemed illegal as far as i know. Times change, usually for the worse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesmark Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 they dont teach that not, its considered inappropriate to use engine braking !!! i was taught old fashoned way The old fashioned way is to engine brake. My dad kept drumming that into me when I passed when I was 18 as he was taight to engine brake and he is 63 now, passed at 17. Use the gears to slow the car rather than using the brakes excessively. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kranz Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 You are not doing anything wrong by engine breaking, but modern thinking and technology has moved on a lot since it was last taught Ideally you should be braking in gear early enough up to a junction/obstacle etc so that when you reach the minimum stable revs in that gear you dip the clutch and continue breaking to a stop with the clutch down..... or let off the breaks and select a gear and go. One thing at a time is the best, most stable and safest.... Information - What is going on as you approach the junction etc Position - Where do you need to be in the road Speed - Is it appropriate, slow down if needed Gear - Once the speed is where you need it then select a gear Accelerate - Accel away from the junction Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SupraStar 3000 Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 engine braking is way more fun (not that it makes a difference in my Auto soop). I sometimes see if I can drive home from work without touching the brakes. Makes the day go faster and saves on pads too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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