PassIdentification of controls - Light Motor Vehicle
Manual Gear Box
The aim is to familiarise a learner driver with the major visual components of a motor vehicle. The intention is also to assist the learner driver to identify the controls that needs to be used in conjunction to complete a certain manoeuvre or action. The controls/components of a Light Motor Vehicle manual gear box is as follows.
- 1. Centre Rear View Mirror — used to see the rear of your vehicle.
- 2. Window Wiper — used to clean the front windscreen of the vehicle and when driving in the rain.
- 3. Left and Right Rear View Mirrors — used to look what is on the right & left hand rear-side of your vehicle.
- 4. Steering Wheel — used to change the direction of the vehicle ie. turning left or right or keeping the vehicle on a straight path.
- 5. Indicator Light Switch — used to advise other road users of your intention to steer to the left or right, or to turn to the left or right. (especially when changing lanes).
- 6. Gear Level — used to change/select a gear.
- 7. Hand Brake — used to ensure that your parked vehicle does not move. Also used when parking and leaving a vehicle unattended. (Note that some vehicles might have the hand brake as a foot operated control (e.g. Mercedes-Benz).
- 8. Clutch Pedal — used when engaging or disengaging a gear or changing from one gear to another.
- 9. Brake Pedal — used to stop your vehicle used to decrease speed or stop also used avoid the vehicle stalling just before coming to a complete standstill.
When braking the distance it takes the driver of a motor vehicle to stop is,
(i) longer on a wet road than on a dry road.
(ii) longer if the vehicle is travelling at a higher speed.
(iii) longer if the vehicle is loaded. - 10. Accelerator Pedal — used to accelerate your vehicle. The speed of the vehicle can be increased or decreased by this control.
- 11. Horn — used to alert other road users in order to avoid a collision.