Driving Tips - Accelerator
Guidance reviewed: 25 September 2026. Use these prompts with professional instruction and the handbook for the vehicle you drive.
Accelerator
Anticipation
Approaching Junctions
Brake
Clearance
Clutch
Crossing Other Traffic
Crossroads
Emergency Stop
Exterior Mirrors
Gear Lever
Gears
General
Handbrake
Head Restraint
Indicators
Interior Mirror
Making Progress
Meeting Approaching Traffic
Mirrors
Moving Away
Moving Off
Overtaking
Pedestrian Crossings
Reverse Parking
Reversing
Road Positioning
Safe Distance
Safety Routine
Seat
Seat Belts
Signals
Steering
Steering Wheel
Stopping
T-Junctions
The Engine
Turning the Car Around
Practical Driving Test Tips — Accelerator
| Problem | Reason | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Speed changes are abrupt | The accelerator is being pressed or released too quickly. | Use smooth, progressive pedal movements and keep looking well ahead so that speed changes can be planned early. |
| The engine races while moving away | The accelerator and, in a manual car, clutch are not being coordinated smoothly. | Pause, secure the car if necessary and practise the vehicle-specific method with your instructor. Do not rely on a fixed pedal measurement. |
| Your speed is unsuitable for the conditions | The speed limit is being treated as a target rather than a maximum. | Choose a speed that lets you stop within the distance you can see to be clear, allowing for traffic, weather, visibility and vulnerable road users. |