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ThrottleSouth Africa

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

Traffic signs
Traffic rules
South Africa

85. 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.

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