Alexander Dennis Trident 2, Operation Manual

Page: 29 / 52

29
Starting and Driving
Retarder
The transmission has a convertor
brake or retarder, and suffers no
mechanical wear. This saves wear on
the service brakes and in an
emergency the full braking effect (no
fading) of the service brakes is
available.
The brake pedal has three stages of
operation according to the position of
the pedal. The first two positions apply
a first and second stage of braking.
The third position will apply the vehicle
brakes in addition to the retarder.
No special equipment is visible in the
driver's cab, except a retarder warning
lamp which illuminates when the
retarder is in operation.
Driving Downhill
Select a suitable gear ratio before
reaching the downhill gradient and
reduce speed so that the gearbox
shifts down to the highest ratio of the
range selected. This will prevent the
gearbox from shifting back to a higher
speed range automatically.
Speed Control Humps
It is important to recognise that there
should be a normal maximum speed of
operation over such devices that is
consistent with ensuring the long term
durability of vehicles. On this basis it is
recommended that a maximum
traverse speed of 15 mph is not
exceeded over speed humps.
Where vehicles are consistently driven
over traffic calming devices at speeds
in excess of this limit then the long term
durability of the vehicle may be
adversely affected.
Guided Busways
Certain buses maybe fitted with guide
wheels for use in a guided bus way.
Vehicles of this type will be affixed with
the label below.
Automatic Gearbox Driving Conditions
NOTICE TO DRIVERS
WARNING
GUIDE WHEELS COULD BE
FITTED TO THIS VEHICLE
CHECK BEFORE MOVING
ARE GUIDE WHEELS FITTED?
IF SO, ARE YOU TRAINED TO DRIVE IT
CAUTION
Drivers of these buses MUST
have undertaken specialist
training.