Clutch & Brake!!!?

Question

Hey people im 17 years old and im a LEARNER (learning to drive)
my Driving instructor says to look in my HIGHWAY CODE book on how and when to use the CLUTCH and BRAKE. i cant find it in there. so im gnna ask YOU PEOPLE to HELP ME :)
i hope you dont mind. bascially when coming to a stop like when traffic is coming do i put the clutch straight down first then the brake? and then when leaving i take it i go into the next gear down for example gear 2 down 2 1? sorry if you dont understand ppl bascially my point is when coming to a HOLT at a Crossroads or Busy Main Road or a roundabout. do i put clutch right to the floor and brake or just clutch up brake or what im confussed lol HELP!!!!!!

Answer 1

I completely understand how you are confused and see exactly where you are coming from. Driving a manual car is hard (I know because I have used one multiple times). When slowing down push in the clutch and shift down to the next lowest gear. For instance if you are in 4th gear and are slowing down for a red traffic light then shift into 3rd. Once you have gotten down to 20 MPH shift to 2nd gear. And once you get down to 10 MPH you can then shift into 1st gear. Here's a chart of the gears and when you should use them (depending on the speed you are going). I think it will help you out.
1st GEAR: 1-20 MPH
2nd GEAR: 20-25 MPH
3rd GEAR: 25-39 MPH
4th GEAR: 40-49 MPH
5th GEAR: 50+ MPH
If you don't want to shift down from all the gears just push in the clutch bring the shift lever to the middle of the column (Neutral) and brake until you come to a complete stop and then shift back into 1st gear. When departing from an interesction that just changed traffic lights from green to red have your right foot on the gas and slowly back down off the clutch. Once you have reached the middle point you can release it at any speed desired and the car will speed up gradually (depending on how hard the accelator is being pushed. Don't let off the clutch immediatedly without giving gas or you will stall the engine on the middle of the road and the drivers behind you will become impatient because they don't get to go through the green light. I, however have made this mistake several times myself and if it does happen just restart the engine as quickly as possible and resume driving the car. I hope that this has helped you.

Answer 2

If you brake, you need to put the clutch down shortly before coming to a halt, otherwise the car will stall (engine cut out). If you are braking over a distance, you may need to change gear- more than once even. You will learn which is the appropriate gear by the sound that your car engine makes. Whilst your clutch is down, you are not actually in gear (coasting)- something you must not do for more than the time needed to change gears. You cannot fully control your car whilst you are coasting e.g if you suddenly had to speed up, you couldn't until the car was in gear so it's a safety thing. Hope that helps...

Answer 3

Your clutch has to be pushed in when you are at a stop and in gear. You can let it off if you are in neutral, but a good way to do it is like this:

1. start braking...
2. as you slow down, downshift to the next lower gear (if you can think about it) or...
3. as you slow down, push the clutch in before you come to a stop so you don't stall the engine...
4. when you're at a complete stop, either put it in 1st gear and get ready to go (stop sign, etc), or put it in neutral (red light) and let off the clutch while you wait.

In a roundabout, put the car in the correct gear (probably 1st or 2nd) and keep driving.

Answer 4

Use of clutch:

Pulling away from start: with car in 1st gear let clutch in slowly. The point at which the clutch begins to engage is called the 'bite'. This is when you release the handbrake.
Starting in uphill direction you need to release the handbrake very carefully when clutch reaches the bite. This takes some practice.

Starting downhill, into 2nd gear, footbrake on, handbrake off, release footbrake and as car begins to roll, let in clutch slowly.

Changing gear: clutch pedal down, into gear, clutch pedal up slowly.

To stop the car: This should be done smoothly, changing down through the gears. When in 2nd gear, clutch down, then brake smoothly to stop. Then down to 1st ready to pull away again.

Use of brake:
Smooth and gradual and in connection with clutch as above to stop.

Only brake quickly if it's an emergency stop - brake and clutch together so car stops quickly without stalling. Your driving instructor should show you how to do this. You are supposed to do an emergency stop without stalling or skidding. Again this takes practice.

Remember - when you push the clutch pedal down it disconnects the engine from the gear box (lets clutch out) and when you release the clutch pedal it reconnects engine and gear box (lets clutch in).

Always release the clutch slowly and smoothly.

Answer 5

I do not want to put you off at all, but I have only recently passed my driving test. After 30years of struggling with CLUTCH/BRAKE etc, I try ed an automatic passed first time, I feel much more confident now.

Answer 6

When ur stoppin, brake 1st n slow down, then put ur clutch down to stop the car completely. then to move again put the car into 1st, dont try n pull away in any other gear!

Answer 7

You're going to get several different opinions on answering your question; so your best bet is to hire a driving school instructor and pay a few dollars so you can get on with your life.

Answer 8

YOU REALLY NEED TO GET A BETTER DRIVING INSTRUCTOR! (IF YOU ARE GOING DOWNHILL IN 1 OR 2 AND PUT YOUR CLUTCH DOWN FIRST YOU MAY ACTUALLY GO FASTER) HOPE HE'S CHEAP.

Answer 9

If that's what your instructor said & you haven't misunderstood him/her, you need a different instructor!

What you've apparently been told is absolute rubbish, as you've discovered.

Crimson Rambler's given you the genuine gen.

Answer 10

1. Clutch to the floor.

2. Brake.