Approaching a bend, looking ahead you need to change your position on the road, in order to reduce speed we brake very smoothly, at this point we may need to just lift off the power in good time without any braking by reducing speed naturally, and turn into bend by using acceleration sense and keeping in the gear and driving a eco way.

Your choice of gear gives you the correct response from the engine which will take you through the curve of the bend. You may be travelling in 5th gear approaching a 2nd gear corner so why use intermediate gears when not needed just get the speed down and change from 5th to 2nd

Now coming into the bend you have correct speed, correct gear, the hands are in the correct position on the steering wheel, and with the minimum setting of acceleration, it now means the car is balanced to respond to you steering a steady curve.

The bend now starts to open out so you can now gently apply more power, and once you have straightened the steering full power can be given

Adapting the system I P S G A you can stop changing gears in numerical order which many drivers done from the early thirties, when perhaps brakes were not as efficient as today and helping to decelerate the car

With today’s modern technology brakes being more efficient it is much cheaper to replace the brake pads rather than a gearbox.

So brake to slow and select lower gear to go. Also if you are stopping for instance at a traffic light which has just changed to red keep in the gear you are in and stop without changing to unnecessary gears, then select 1st gear to move off from stand still…

We have many simple ways of driving, which takes a lot out of the work of driving a car, making more efficient driving.

There is nothing better than being in the correct gear at the correct time in modern driving, helping to maintain stability and control.

The driver must be in control of the car and not the car in control of the driver, by using and keeping to a system makes driving really interesting and by searching out for the big picture, i.e. forward planning becomes second nature leading to safer drivers.

The question always arises but my car is an automatic?
No problem the same applies many automatics are able to lock down by manual selection, by lock down to an intermediate gear approaching a bend this gives a better ride, and also prevents the gear systems from making different gear selections whist turning in the bend.

By locking down gears the I P S G A system still applies but just miss out the gear change element…

Safe Driving
Dont forget look in the rear view mirror before braking, and brake smoothly.