Control · Driving test fault
Gears
What it means
Selecting the right gear for your speed and the road, changing smoothly and in good time, and keeping your eyes up while you do it.
What a fault looks like
A wrong gear or a clumsy change is a driving fault; looking down at the gearstick and drifting, or coasting in neutral, can be serious.
What learners get wrong
Looking at the lever to change gear, or being in too high a gear so the car labours and cannot respond.
What we recommend
Match the gear to your speed and change by feel without looking down. Block-change when you can - you do not have to use every gear.
Start with a first lesson.