Study guide3 min read

Automatic and manual transmissions: gears, clutch and accelerating

Whether your car shifts by itself or you shift it with a clutch, knowing what each gear does makes you smoother and safer. Here is what the Driver’s Guide teaches.p. 46 p. 47

Checked against the Driver’s Guide (Spring 2026) on Oct 8, 2026.

The short version

An automatic’s engine starts only in Park or Neutral.p. 46
The low gears give more power and less speed: for hills, slush, loose gravel, snow, sand or ice.p. 46
In a manual, start with the shifter in neutral and the clutch pressed all the way down.p. 47
Never exceed the speed limit, and keep with the flow of traffic: driving too slowly can be a hazard too.p. 49

Automatic transmission: what each gear is for

The gear selectorp. 46
Gear	Use it for	Engine starts?
Park	Starting the engine and leaving the vehicle parked. It locks the transmission so the wheels can’t turn	Yes
Reverse	Backing up. The white or clear lights at the back come on	No
Neutral	No gear selected: the wheels aren’t locked and get no power. Used when the vehicle is towed	Yes
Drive	Normal forward driving; the transmission shifts up and down by itself	No
Third, second, first	More power and less speed, and stopping it shifting higher: hills and slippery or loose roads	No
Overdrive (some vehicles)	Higher speeds; it helps save fuel	No

The lock release on the gear selector helps stop you shifting by mistake. You need it to:p. 46

move out of Park into Reverse or a forward gear, with your foot on the brakep. 46
shift from Drive down to first or secondp. 46
shift into Park from any gearp. 46

Manual transmission: the clutch

Pressing the clutch disconnects the engine from the wheels, and that is when you change gears. Let it up and the engine’s power goes to the wheels again.p. 47

Choose the right gear so the engine doesn’t lug (move roughly) or race (rev without moving the car well). Your owner’s manual gives approximate shift speeds.p. 47
Learn the shift pattern (usually on top of the lever) with the engine off and the clutch down, until you can find every gear without looking.p. 47
Take your foot off the clutch after every shift. Resting it there is “riding the clutch” and wears it out.p. 47
Don’t coast to a stop with the clutch pressed, and take corners in the right gear with your foot off the clutch.p. 47
Use the clutch only to start, to change gears, and just before stopping so you don’t stall.p. 47

Accelerating smoothly

Controlling your speed means looking where you want to go and using the accelerator well: press gradually, then hold it at the right position for your speed.p. 49

Accelerate smoothly, and adjust to the weather, road and traffic.p. 49
Don’t speed up or slow down for no reason, and never so hard that the tires spin.p. 49
Glance at your speedometer now and then.p. 49

Before you set off: Before you drive: pre-drive checks, steering and reversing.