The DGT today sent a curious twitter: “Mastering the vehicle’s pedals, without making excessive use of it, is essential to drive safely and efficiently. Do you know how to use them correctly? Follow these tips:”. |
Mastering the vehicle’s pedals, without overusing them, is essential to driving safely and efficiently. Do you know how to use them correctly? Follow these tips:
— Director General Traffic (@DGTes)
The Traffic Magazine analyzes car pedals explaining their use, pointing out the correct way and also the wrong way. They are used to start, stop, speed up or slow down and, in Traffic’s opinion, knowing how to use them correctly will allow you to circulate safely and efficiently.
These are the three pedals in driving a car with a manual transmission:
Throttle. Regulates the passage of fuel to the cylinders to adjust the power of the engine. Therefore, its use determines consumption. And it also conditions the use of the other controls: if the accelerator is abused, it will be necessary to press the other two pedals more times. Thus, to manage the accelerator effectively it is necessary to know when and how far to press it. Sometimes your ‘no use’ is also a safe and smart use: if you take your foot off the accelerator a little before you reach curves, traffic jams and red lights, you will reduce your use of the pedal and your fuel consumption.
Brake. It allows the vehicle to stop, adjust its speed and maintain a safe distance from other vehicles. Driving experts emphasize that the brake must be used in its proper measure, without excesses, gently, applying the necessary pressure: acquiring that ‘feel’ when stepping on the pedal is useful in important braking and to make the ride comfortable for your passengers. On the other hand, the brake pedal is currently the most assisted by electronic aids, which act whether it is used by excess or by default.
Clutch. Couples and uncouples the engine to the gearbox. It is used to change gear, pressing it all the way down and releasing it smoothly and progressively. In handling the clutch pedal, it is also important to master the “friction point” -clutch disc and flywheel connect and the movement is transmitted- to control the vehicle when starting off on steep ascending slopes, in parking lots and when performing a comfortable and smooth ride.
Tips from the DGT
Disengage to position the seat. A common defect is not pressing the clutch pedal fully and this leads to the gear change system deteriorating. Sometimes it happens because the driver’s seat is not positioned correctly. To do this, find your optimal distance from the steering wheel and pedals. The sidewalk should be at a distance that allows you to maneuver comfortably. A trick: with the pedal fully pressed, the left leg should be slightly bent, not stretched.
The engine brake is out of use. The brake pedal is the safest, most effective and precise way to slow down and stop the vehicle. “During braking under normal conditions the engine brake is not used, with the electronic aids braking does not require as much skill from the driver. First the brakes are applied and then the gear ratio is adjusted to the speed. Using the engine as a brake reduces to shorter gears is obsolete due to efficient driving”, explains José María O’Mullony, head of the DGT’s Road Training section.
Every time a gear is inserted, fuel is spent, while if you circulate with a gear engaged, above idle speed, without touching the accelerator, the expense at that moment is zero. It can be checked on the on-board computer.
But there is a specific case in which it is advisable to help the service brake with the “engine brake”: on long descents, an adequate low gear ratio is key to holding the vehicle without abusing the brake.
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