Revision question · Vehicle handling

When will you feel the effects of engine braking?

Revision material from the imported DVSA bank includes source-checked Lanekind learning corrections. These corrections are not newly issued official examination questions, and practice does not reproduce a live test paper.

Answer options

When you only use the parking brake

When you're in neutral

When you change to a lower gear

When you change to a higher gear

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When you change to a lower gearThis was the right answer

When you take your foot off the accelerator, engines have a natural resistance to turn, caused mainly by the cylinder compression. Changing to a lower gear requires the engine to turn faster and so it will have greater resistance than when it's made to turn more slowly. When going downhill, changing to a lower gear will therefore help to keep the vehicle's speed in check.

Reviewed reading for this question

Gears on hillsReviewed guidance summary · A lower suitable gear increases engine braking rather than removing it.

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