Can I shift to first gear after stopping when pulling over?
3 Answers
You can stop in second gear and then shift to first gear to start aligning. However, it is recommended to shift to first gear before stopping when pulling over. Additional information: 1. Distance: During the Subject 3 test, once the vehicle enters the parking area, the student needs to use the reference points taught by the instructor to park, keeping the distance between the car body and the roadside edge line at about 30cm for a perfect operation. If the distance exceeds 30cm but is less than 50cm, 10 points will be deducted. 2. Reference points: Generally, certain protruding points inside the car are used to judge the distance between the car body and the edge line. There are three common reference points: the protruding part of the wiper, the right one-third of the front of the car, and the right front door handle. Students can choose any one of them as a reference point. When the car aligns with the right edge line, the distance between the car body and the road edge line is exactly 30cm.
I've been driving for over twenty years, and you definitely shouldn't stop first and then shift into first gear when pulling over—getting the sequence wrong is really dangerous. The correct procedure is: signal early with your turn indicator, slow down, stop about 30 centimeters from the curb by pressing the clutch and brake, and immediately shift into neutral and engage the handbrake. If you leave it in first gear after stopping, the car will lurch forward the next time you start it. If the handbrake isn't tight enough or the car rolls on a slope, the consequences are unthinkable. Last month, my neighbor parked in a low gear, forgot to shift back to neutral when getting out to shop, and the car lurched forward and hit a fire hydrant when started. With a manual transmission, parking should always involve the double safety of neutral gear + handbrake—don't cut corners for convenience.
As a driving instructor, I must emphasize that shifting into first gear while pulling over is a major mistake. When the vehicle comes to a stop, the engine is still delivering power. Shifting into a lower gear at this moment is like suddenly braking a galloping horse, subjecting the transmission gears to severe impact. Last year, a student did this while pulling over, resulting in a burnt clutch smell and an 800-yuan repair bill. The correct procedure is: turn the steering wheel 15 degrees to the right and gradually pull over. When the wheels are about a fist's distance from the curb, firmly press the brake, depress the clutch fully while shifting into neutral, and finally engage the handbrake. Especially for automatic transmission vehicles, always shift into P (Park) before turning off the engine, otherwise the transmission locking mechanism will wear out prematurely.
