Now that you are legally entitled to drive a car, you 1st need to know how the car works, what each control does and how to use them.

The controls can be separated into Primary, Secondary and Auxiliary.

Primary

• Clutch
• Brake
• Accelerator
• Handbrake
• Gear Stick
• Seatbelt
• Mirrors
• Steering Wheel

The three pedals are from left to right: clutch, Brake, and Accelerator. Your left foot is only used for the clutch, and your right foot is only used for the Brake or accelerator. This is because you never need to use the accelerator and brake at the same time, so one foot can control both.

The Clutch

The Clutch is used if you need to move off, change gear, or stop. The main purpose of the clutch is to connect and disconnect the power from the engine to the road wheels. It’s needed so that changes can be made smoothly from one gear to another and also to stop without stalling. When using the clutch, it always goes down fast and up slowly.

The Brake

The brake is to be used gently. It’s better to break earlier and easier than later and harder. You can brake without needing to use the clutch, but if you want to stop, then the clutch must be fully down before coming to a stop. If possible, you should avoid braking and turning simultaneously, as this can cause the vehicle not to turn as well or slow down. When entering a junction or bend, it is best to brake in advance and turn while “under acceleration”. As with most aspects of driving, there are times when extra braking while turning is necessary, such as encountering a hazard.

The Accelerator

Also known as the Gas pedal, it makes the car go faster by adding more fuel to the car’s engine. It is to be used gently and gradually to increase speed not only for smooth, safe driving but also for economical fuel consumption.

Cockpit Drill

When you first get into the vehicle, you will get used to performing your cockpit drill. The aim of the cockpit drill is to ensure that you are comfortable in your seat and in a suitable position to operate the vehicle’s controls.

The cockpit drill is very important. The letters D.S.S.S.M help us remember the order in which the checks must be carried out.

1. Door — must be properly closed.

2 .Seat — comes in three parts,

2.1. Cushion – adjust the part you sit on so that your left leg bends slightly when the clutch is fully depressed.

2.2. Back – adjust for comfort.

2.3. Head restraint – not headrest. It is there solely to prevent whiplash injuries in an accident. Adjust it so that it is directly behind your head.

3 Steering — checked by placing both hands on top of the wheel.

4. Seatbelt — ensure that the strap is flat across the chest.

5 . Mirrors — adjust all mirrors to give the correct field of vision.

Once you have completed the cockpit drill, you will be sitting comfortably and suitably positioned to operate all of the vehicle’s controls.

Secondary

Ignition

This turns the car on. The key needs to be turned clockwise through 3 stages and once the engine is “ignited” can be left alone. Before turning on the car the gear must be in neutral.

Horn

Usually, as part of the steering wheel, it is used solely to warn other road users of your presence and never as a rebuke.

Indicators

The purpose of indicating is to warn other road users of your intentions. If the indicator stick is on the left-hand side, then down is for left, and up is for right. If it’s on the right of the wheel, then up is for left, and down is for right. This is because it always relates to the direction the steering wheel will be turning.

Wipers

These have varying speeds depending on the intensity of the rain. The windscreen washer should always be topped up to ensure the windows remain clean while driving.

Lights

Dipped lights should be used at dawn and dusk, in built-up areas, when facing oncoming traffic, when following behind another vehicle, or in fog or heavy rain. At all other times, the full beam can be used.

Auxiliary

Speedometer

It tells the speed the car is travelling in Miles per Hour (mph), Kilometres per Hour (KPH), or both.

Rev Counter

This shows the number of revolutions the crankshaft is making per minute. The higher the Revs, the harder the engine has to work, and so if the car is over 2000 Revs, then the driver should consider changing up a gear or easing off the accelerator to slow down and ease pressure on the car.

Temperature Gauge

This tells how hot the engine is. If it moves towards Red, it may overheat, and you should pull over before it gets too hot.

Fuel Gauge

This tells how much petrol the car has. When the Fuel warning light comes on, you should refuel immediately. The light comes typically on with 8 litres of petrol left, but if the petrol level goes down too low, it sometimes means dirt and residue in the petrol tank is transmitted through the engine and can cause harm.