Do You Need to Press the Clutch and Brake When Starting the Engine in Subject 2?
2 Answers
Pressing the clutch and brake when starting the engine is for safety reasons. Here are the relevant explanations: 1. Neutral Gear: When driving a manual transmission car, you can directly start the engine after confirming that the gear is in neutral. If you forget to confirm this and start the engine without pressing the clutch while the car is in gear, the car may lurch forward, creating a dangerous situation. Starting the engine while pressing the brake can prevent this from happening. Even if the road is uneven and there's a possibility of the car rolling, pressing the brake ensures it won't move. 2. Working Principle: The clutch works by completely disconnecting the load at the engine's output end, allowing the engine starter to operate with minimal load. This can extend the car's lifespan.
I remember when I was taking the driving test for Subject 2, the instructor repeatedly emphasized that you must press the clutch when starting the engine! Starting a manual transmission car without pressing the clutch can easily lead to accidents, as it prevents the car from suddenly lurching forward if it's in gear. On flat roads, you don't need to press the brake, but if you're on a slope starting position, it's safer to also press the brake. During my test, I always used both feet—pressing the clutch all the way down with my left foot before starting the engine, so the engine wouldn't stall. However, be careful if the engine stalls during the test—you must shift to neutral before restarting, otherwise it's an immediate fail. In short, developing the habit of pressing the clutch when starting the engine is helpful for daily driving later on—safety first!
