Do You Need to Press the Brake When Starting the Car?

[DeTaylor]

Generally, when the car is on a flat road, there is no need to press the brake. Therefore, when starting the car, there is no need to worry about whether to release the clutch or the brake first; simply release the clutch to the semi-engaged position. However, during driving practice, instructors often advise pressing the brake as a safety precaution to prevent the car from lurching forward if the gear was not in neutral. Precautions for starting the car: Precautions 1: After starting the engine, listen to its operation and observe the indicators on the dashboard. Once the engine is running normally and it is confirmed that there are no obstacles around the car, ensuring all conditions for starting are met, press the clutch pedal all the way down with your left foot to completely disengage the clutch. Precautions 2: During a normal start, the goal is to start smoothly and safely, maintaining the correct driving posture. When starting, pay attention to selecting the appropriate gear based on the car's condition, road conditions, and slope. Generally, on flat and solid roads or grounds, it is advisable to start in 1st or 2nd gear.

[MacElla]

When I first learned to drive, the instructor always emphasized that starting an automatic transmission car requires stepping on the brake, otherwise the car wouldn't move at all. I remember my first attempt at the driving school—after shifting gears, the car didn't budge. The instructor explained that you can't shift gears without pressing the brake, especially in automatic cars, as it's a safety design to prevent the vehicle from rolling on slopes or due to misoperation. Manual transmission cars generally don't require braking to start, relying mainly on clutch and throttle coordination, though hill starts might need the foot brake for assistance. After developing this habit, I feel more at ease at urban traffic lights; if the brake isn't firmly pressed, the car might roll and risk hitting the vehicle behind or pedestrians. Modern new models come with electronic parking brakes that release automatically upon pressing the accelerator, but you still need to press the brake to unlock before starting. In short, safety comes first in driving, and beginners are better off practicing the basics with an automatic transmission first.

[MacAlina]

After thirty years of driving, I've found that using the brake at startup varies by vehicle type: manual transmissions don't rely on brakes at all, controlling power entirely through clutch and throttle; whereas automatic transmissions require brake pedal engagement to shift from P to D or R gear - this is a mandatory safety mechanism. When starting on slopes, pressing the brake prevents rollback, and even on flat roads, don't skip this step - make it a habit to prevent accidents. Older vehicles without this design were prone to incidents, but now all automatics come with built-in protection circuits. While driving, I pay attention to brake pedal feedback, ensuring full engagement before moving off, especially during rain or snow. This principle extends to cars with electronic shifters too: the brake signal must activate before gear changes. Safety habits start with details - protecting both yourself and others.

[OSteven]

From a technical perspective, starting an automatic transmission vehicle with the brake pedal depressed is an achievement of circuit design: the brake pedal sensor sends a signal to the transmission control unit to unlock the gearshift lever, preventing unintended vehicle movement. Manual transmissions don't require this as they rely entirely on mechanical clutch control. This feature in modern cars helps prevent rollback accidents on slopes, making it important to check vehicle response by lightly applying the brakes. Developing the habit of pressing the brake during daily driving ensures smooth operation.