Revision question · Band 2 traffic signs and signals, car control, pedestrians, mechanical knowledge

You're driving a car fitted with automatic transmission. What should you do when you approach a very steep downhill gradient?

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

Remain in 'D' (Drive) and keep the speed in check with the footbrake

Slow down and use the gear selector to hold the car in a low gear

Slow down, so that the automatic transmission changes down to a lower gear

Use 'kick-down' to change the vehicle into a lower gear

Show the answer

Slow down and use the gear selector to hold the car in a low gearThis was the right answer

A vehicle fitted with an automatic transmission usually changes to a higher gear as its speed increases and to a lower gear as it falls. It will also change down to a lower gear going uphill, as the load on the engine increases. However, there are times when you need to stay in a low gear even if the speed is constant and the load is light - for example, when going down a steep hill. The system normally tries to change to a higher gear in these situations; the driver is usually able to override the system by using the gear selector to stay in a low gear.

Reviewed reading for this question

Prepare and control a car safelyReviewed guidance summary · Use Park when leaving an automatic and the handbook’s selector modes for a descent or extra acceleration; control layouts and behaviour vary.

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Revision question · Band 2 traffic signs and signals, car control, pedestrians, mechanical knowledge

You're driving a car fitted with automatic transmission. What should you do when you approach a very steep downhill gradient?

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

Remain in 'D' (Drive) and keep the speed in check with the footbrake

Slow down and use the gear selector to hold the car in a low gear

Slow down, so that the automatic transmission changes down to a lower gear

Use 'kick-down' to change the vehicle into a lower gear

Show the answer

Slow down and use the gear selector to hold the car in a low gearThis was the right answer

A vehicle fitted with an automatic transmission usually changes to a higher gear as its speed increases and to a lower gear as it falls. It will also change down to a lower gear going uphill, as the load on the engine increases. However, there are times when you need to stay in a low gear even if the speed is constant and the load is light - for example, when going down a steep hill. The system normally tries to change to a higher gear in these situations; the driver is usually able to override the system by using the gear selector to stay in a low gear.

Reviewed reading for this question

Prepare and control a car safelyReviewed guidance summary · Use Park when leaving an automatic and the handbook’s selector modes for a descent or extra acceleration; control layouts and behaviour vary.