You are driving a motor vehicle with a manual gearbox on a level carriageway. How should you change gears so as to drive in a particularly environmentally conscious and economical way?

To drive in an environmentally conscious and economical way in a manual vehicle, it's essential to modify your shifting technique based on engine efficiency.

1. Changing up gears as early as possible helps to keep the engine running at a lower RPM, which reduces fuel consumption and emissions. This practice is beneficial for the environment and your fuel bill.

2. Changing down gears as late as possible also contributes to an economical driving style. This means that you allow the vehicle to maximize the use of the current gear to maintain momentum, reducing unnecessary gear changes that can waste fuel.

3. The choice of driving until reaching the upper engine speed range in one gear before shifting up is not considered economical. Sticking to a high RPM before changing increases fuel consumption and may wear the engine out faster.

Therefore, the correct approach to effective gear changing is to combine the first two choices. These methods align with German traffic rules that aim to promote safe and efficient driving practices, thereby encouraging drivers to adopt habits that benefit both the environment and vehicle performance.