Support us

ThrottlePortugal

Learn traffic rules with clear explanations and visual examples in our illustrated book, designed to make studying simple and engaging.

Traffic signs
Traffic rules
Portugal

88. Throttle

A throttle is a control used to regulate the power produced by an engine or motor. In most cars and trucks, the driver controls the throttle through the accelerator pedal, while motorcycles commonly use a twist grip on the handlebar.

Increasing the throttle generally increases the power available for acceleration, while reducing it decreases the power delivered to the wheels. The exact system differs between combustion-engine, hybrid and electric vehicles.

Throttle
Car pedals: clutch, brake and accelerator.
Wikimedia.org • Santeri Viinamäki • CC BY-SA
What is a throttle?

A throttle is a control that regulates how much power an engine or motor produces.

How does a driver control the throttle?

In most cars, the throttle is controlled using the accelerator pedal. Motorcycles and some other vehicles commonly use a twist-grip throttle.

Is the throttle the same as the accelerator?

They are closely related but not exactly the same. The accelerator is the driver's control, while the throttle refers more broadly to the system that responds to that input and regulates engine or motor power.

1 Portugal 2 Motorway 3 Zone 4 Speed limit 5 Bike path 6 Bus stop 7 Dead end 8 Stop sign 9 Roundabout 10 Railway crossing 11 Mandatory direction 12 School area 13 Overtaking 14 Crossing animals 15 Wrong-way driving 16 Traffic lights 17 Traffic mirror 18 International border 19 Parking 20 No parking 21 Disabled parking 22 Reversing 23 Tourist attraction 24 Licence plate 25 Charging station 26 Bus 27 Police 28 Ambulance 29 European emission standard 30 Pothole 31 Path 32 Particulates 33 Air pollution 34 Rush hour 35 Road code 36 Street gutter 37 Cargo bike 38 Forestry vehicle 39 Construction vehicle 40 Semi-trailer truck 41 Trolleybus 42 Speed pedelec 43 Delivery vehicle 44 Idling 45 Tow truck 46 Four-wheel drive 47 Bicycle 48 Motorcycle equipment 49 Rail track 50 Caravan 51 Trailer 52 Tow hitch 53 Fire truck 54 Siren 55 Convoy 56 Emergency vehicle lighting 57 Agricultural machinery 58 Electric bicycle 59 Electric vehicle 60 Pedelec 61 Quadricycle 62 Microcar 63 All-terrain vehicle 64 Van 65 Recreational vehicle 66 Scooter 67 Trikke 68 Personal mobility device 69 Skateboard 70 Segway 71 Kick scooter 72 Roller skates 73 Mailman 74 Hitchhiker 75 Toddler 76 Child 77 Disability 78 Motorail 79 km/h 80 mph 81 Speedometer 82 Ride height 83 Dirt road 84 Driving 85 Start-stop system 86 Manual transmission 87 Automatic transmission 88 Throttle 89 Tachometer 90 Steering wheel 91 Power steering 92 Visual scanning 93 Mirror 94 Fuel 95 Fuel gauge 96 Petrol 97 Diesel 98 Diesel exhaust fluid 99 Car insurance 100 First aid kit ...