Skipping Gears when leaving the high way into the ramp and wide turns

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by omar1999, Jul 20, 2025 at 7:39 PM.

  1. omar1999

    omar1999 Bobtail Member

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    Hello everyone!

    I hope everyone doing well!

    I have my manual road test next week and I have a few quick questions. Can I downshift from 9th to 7th while exiting the highway into a curve if I brake from 45 to 25 mph? Also, what gear should I be in for a ramp curve at 15–25 mph? And when driving through curves, should I stay in the widest part of the lane—for example, stay left on a right curve that looks like a C and stay right on a left curve?

    I would appreciate your help guys!

    thank you so much for your time!
     
    austinmike Thanks this.
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  3. RockinChair

    RockinChair Road Train Member

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    If this road test is for the DMV (as opposed to a pre-hire road test for a potential employer) then ask the examiner in advance if you're allowed to skip gears. That seems like a lot of braking in a pretty short distance, I might start slowing down sooner and be at the top of 8th (instead of in 9th) going into the ramp.

    6th.

    Try to keep all of your tires between the white and yellow lines. If that's not possible then do what you have to in order to keep the equipment away from the edge of the pavement, you don't want to make contact with the wall or drop a tire off into the grass.

    Good luck on your test!
     
  4. TripleSix

    TripleSix God of Roads

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    Be cautious about coasting in neutral. They can fail you for that.
     
  5. austinmike

    austinmike Road Train Member

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    I would not skip gears. They want you to drive exactly like you are supposed to. When I took my test in 2012 they wanted to see a death grip on the shifter.
     
    TripleSix Thanks this.
  6. 201

    201 Road Train Member

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    Sounds like a job for the "mystery gear",,:D
     
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