Coasting in a vehicle

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Coasting, what is it?
Most people have heard of the term coasting, but some are unsure as to what it means. Coasting happens when the clutch is fully depressed (pushed down to the floor) while the car is moving. It becomes a bad habit for a lot of learner drivers. Coasting can happen when bringing the vehicle to a stop, before changing gear, after changing gear and driving in around small areas, such as car parks and more dangerously when cornering.

When you coast you are not in control of the vehicle, which is very dangerous. You are free wheeling, having stopped all contact between the engine and the wheels. Think back to the last time you free wheeled down hill on a bicycle. What happened? The bicycle picked up speed. If you were to drive down hill with your foot on the clutch the same thing would happen, you’d pick up speed. A low gear going down hill will keep the vehicle in check and prevent it from picking up speed, but if you were to put your foot on the clutch you’re are dis-engaging the gear and free wheeling.

Remember the clutch has three jobs to do
1. It makes the car move
2. It’s used to change gear.
3. It keeps the engine running when stopping in gear.


Tell tale signs that you coast.
Do you go for the clutch before the brake when bringing the vehicle to a stop?
Solution: Brake first then clutch just before you stop to prevent car from stalling.

When changing down gear are you on the clutch for a few seconds before selecting your gear?
Solution: Brake sufficiently for the gear selected, then clutch and change gear.

When you have just finished changing down gear is it more than 3 seconds before you release the clutch?
Solution: If you have braked sufficiently before you change your gear there is no need to linger long on the clutch.

Are you on the clutch constantly while going around an area like a car park?
Solution: Your vehicle can move extremely slowly in second gear it’s just a bad habit pressing on the clutch when moving. If you feel you will need to drive too slowly for second gear, brake sufficiently and then press the clutch and change to first gear for to do a creeping speed.

There are two exceptions, holding your foot on the clutch in first gear and reverse. These are not considered as coasting and come under the heading clutch control, which allows you to adjust the speed of your vehicle instantly.  For instance creeping along in slow moving traffic or reversing into a parking space.

EDT Lessons

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Many people still have queries with regard to the new EDT Lessons.  I hope this BlogSpot helps. Here are some questions I have been asked regularly. Please phone or e mail me with any questions you may have. I will happy to help.

Is there a form that I get to sign in order to backdate lessons already taken?
No. The new EDT lessons only apply to people who have received their very first learner permit on or after the 4th April 2011.

Can every driving instructor give these EDT lessons?
Registered and approved driving instructors were given an option before the programme was rolled out, as to whether to cover the new EDT programme or continue to give lessons as they had been before.  However, anyone who as I mentioned above has received their very first learner permit on or after 4th April, 2011 must do the EDT programme. So, it is necessary to choose an instructor who is set up to do this programme to ensure that you may sit your driving test.

What is the difference between the EDT lessons and the driving lessons which were given before this new system?
The new programme only covers areas that statistics show are high risk where most collisions occur and does not bring a student from A-Z with what is needed to sit the driving test, for example the turnabout and reverse are not included in the EDT programme.  With the 'old' for want of a better word, lessons. a student could start a first lesson having never sat behind the wheel before.

With the new programme before taking EDT lesson 1, a student must familiarise themselves with, the rules of the road, safety checks.  Know how to use the primary controls such as steering wheel and brakes.  Know how to use the secondary controls such as lights and wipers.  A student must have practised moving off, stopping and driving in safe and quiet conditions for at least three hours.  So, you can see already that there is a lot of preparation to be done by a student before the first lesson should be done.  It is also important where possible that a student practises for three hours in preparation before each of the 12 EDT lessons, practising what had been covered in the previous lesson.

The three hours practise may be done with a Sponsor (someone that you are comfortable with and has held a full drivers licence for at least two years), in fact I recommend this or they may get their practice with their driving instructor or a combination of both.  It is easier on the pocket if you can practice before the first EDT and between EDT lessons with your Sponsor.

Practise is the key.  The lesson time can only show a student the how, why and when and only has a small amount of time to practise but, it's the practise outside of the lesson that makes the big difference on how fast you progress throughout the lessons and will ensure that you are prepared for the next stage involved in learning to drive.  

Remember, it's all about learning in steps.  You cannot be taught how to spell words without first having learned and practised the alphabet.  You cannot be given an essay to write until you have learned and practised the basic skills of writing. And so it is with driving, you cannot be taught more complex driving skills until you have practised what is necessary to get you to that next stage.  Practise, practise, practise.  :)