What is the assessment of vehicle control when the driver shifts gears while turning?

Shifting gears while turning is typically regarded as a potentially hazardous maneuver that can compromise vehicle control. When a driver changes gears during a turn, several factors come into play that can affect the stability and handling of the vehicle.

Firstly, turning already demands a level of attention and skill, as the vehicle's dynamics change due to weight transfer. By shifting gears in this scenario, the driver may inadvertently cause the transmission to shift power delivery abruptly, which can lead to loss of traction. If the driver downshifts too aggressively, for example, it could cause the drive wheels to lose grip and may lead to skidding or oversteering.

Additionally, shifting gears requires the driver to engage with the clutch (in manual transmissions) and manage the throttle simultaneously, diverting their focus from steering and properly managing the turn. This momentary distraction, along with the complexity of handling the vehicle’s dynamics during a turn, increases the risk of an accident.

For these reasons, the assessment of vehicle control when the driver shifts gears while turning is characterized as “bad,” reflecting the increased potential for loss of control and the heightened risk involved in this maneuver.