Identification of controls - Light Motor Vehicle

Automatic 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 automatic 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 *(P-D-R-2-1)→ used to change/select a gear

• 7 Hand brake →(Note that some vehicles might have the hand brake as a foot operated control (e.g. Mercedes-Benz) used to ensure that your parked vehicle does not move. Also used when parking and leaving a vehicle unattended.

• 8 Automatic vehicles do not have a Clutch Pedal

• 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.

* represents the following: P-park, D-drive, R-reverse, 2-lower gear, 1-higher gear.