Just passed my C this morning. ( 2 minors only, both at a mini double roundabout)
After feeling a tad stressed when I failed the 1st test.
(7 minors, 1 serious for being in wrong lane at roundabout, Zero traffic, turning right, I used the left lane to make it easier apparently)
I realize that my previous instructor did not mention once in a week, what was pointed out this morning before my test. (regular guy back off holiday)
Approach to roundabout, reduce SPEED to 10mph into 6th (5th for smaller roundabout)
I was told 20mph before !!!
Use 8th gear in a 30 mph. (previous instuctor said NEVER use 8th in a 30mph)
By going a tad slower, gives you more time, to look, and think = less stress
Using 8th gear means that your are only switching between 8th and 6th most of the time. So feels more natural (well to me)
Anyway, if anyone does fail, (The pass rates I read somewhere is often around 50% 'ish)
maybe the slowing down tip will help. I might have scraped through my first test had I known.
Of course different lorries may mean the gear thing is different, but it worked very well for me this morning… I am off to buy a Yorkie Bar…
Personally, I teach 7th as a max at 30mph. The reason is that you often have to slow down in 30 limits. Many trucks will just run at 30 in 8th but few will cope with anything slower in 8th. So you are immediately into a gear change. Our trucks will go down to around 18 mph in 7th and up to 40 in 7th. So, to me, it makes sense to use a flexible gear and eliminate loads of potential gear changing.
As the OP says, trucks vary. But choice of 7th or 8th at 30th (provided it is within a reasonable rev range) will never cause a problem on test.
I was told that it’s quite alright to go along in 6th at 30mph, if it’s an open stretch of road still at 30mph then 7th is ok but I found it could easilly run away with itself and sneak over 30mph. 7th and 8th is ideal for 40mph limits but again in 8th at 40mph it seems easy to run away with itself.
I also found that I was approaching junctions/roundabouts too fast and then slowing down harshly and messing about trying to get low range. I was taught to get the speed down and find 5th no less than a truck length (full size rigid) away from the junction. With 5th I found I wasn’t messing with low range and you can get the speed right down to about 10mph and still pull away easilly. I found it an ideal gear to approach most junctions/roundabouts/traffic lights.
We also teach to use 7th gear at 30mph. In fact we change down into 7th as the vehicle passes the 30 speed limit sign. There are several reasons for using 7th.
In this gear the rev counter is about 1500. Nicely in the middle of the green band. This allows approx 10mph flexibility each side of 30 without having to change gear.
The driver only has 2 different gears to consider 5th or 6th as an option unless he has to stop,
Using 7th as the 30mph gear helps remind the driver what the speed limit is.
Roundabouts if all clear, 6th, would sneak a cheeky 5th rather than come to a stop if I could.
When I did my class 1, found all the half gears brilliant, although I was reluctant to use them at first (thought I had enough to worry about.) 7th for 30, 7 and a half for 40, only used 8th and 8 and a half on the dual carriageways.
