Which Gear to Use for Curve Driving?

[FelicityRose]

Curve driving uses 1st or 2nd gear. Below are relevant details: Introduction to Curve Driving: Curve driving, commonly known as S-curve, is an assessment point in Subject 2 of the driver's test. The test requires the vehicle to drive on an S-shaped road of specified width without pressing the edge lines and with smooth steering. It assesses the driver's ability to maneuver the steering and control the vehicle during curve driving. The purpose is to develop the driver's steering skills and mastery of wheel trajectory. Precautions: When entering the curve, reduce speed in advance and keep to the right. Avoid turning the steering wheel too quickly or sharply. Choose the path with the largest turning radius whenever possible. Avoid using the brake, especially emergency braking. Check the rearview mirror—it's essential to learn how to use it properly—and master the clutch by using semi-clutch engagement.

[BethanyLynn]

The year I took my driver's license test, my instructor repeatedly emphasized that curve driving must be done in 1st gear! Back then, I didn't understand why until I tried 2nd gear once—I realized that S-turns require constant steering wheel adjustments, and at higher speeds, you simply can't react fast enough. Just slightly lift the clutch to let the car move slowly, and adjust the distance by checking the rearview mirrors. Remember not to focus solely on what's ahead; always glance at how far the sides are from the line, especially when the middle of the front bumper touches the boundary line. Now, every time I drive through sharp turns in our neighborhood while taking my kids to school, I keep it in 1st gear and glide slowly—safety is more important than anything else.

[JoyAnn]

New drivers who just got their license, listen to me: always use first gear for the serpentine course in the test! There's a reason for this. The car is constantly turning in the S-curve, and higher gears with faster speeds make it easy to run over the line. Last year when I was helping my wife practice, I noticed she always wanted to step on the gas, and ended up running over the corner two or three times. The correct approach is to control the speed with the clutch at half-engagement, moving as slow as a snail. The key is to immediately counter-steer when the corner of the car hood covers the boundary line, keeping a safe distance of 30 centimeters between the window edge and the boundary line for the most stability.

[Ashlyn]

Yesterday, my neighbor's incident of scraping the wall while reversing reminded me: the sharper the turn, the slower you should go. There's a reason why the curve driving test requires staying in 1st gear throughout—if the speed is too high, you can't turn the steering wheel in time. Some trainees fear stalling and press the clutch too low, resulting in not completing the turn and running over the line. In fact, when the steering wheel is turned to one and a half turns, you should slightly lift the clutch to increase the speed and complete the turn. When you see the white line in the rearview mirror, decisively straighten the steering wheel, and the action should be smooth.