How many seconds is the maximum allowed for semi-clutch starting in Subject 3?
1 Answers
Subject 3 driving test regulations stipulate that the continuous clutch pedal pressing time must not exceed 10 seconds (5 seconds in some provinces/municipalities). This means the clutch operation duration during gear shifting should be strictly controlled - exceeding the limit will result in immediate failure. Except for starting and gear shifting, drivers should avoid keeping their foot on the clutch pedal unnecessarily. Persistent clutch pedal contact easily leads to prolonged semi-clutch state, which may cause overheating and damage to the clutch friction plates. Additional notes: Skip-shifting (gear jumping) is prohibited during acceleration. This improper gear selection creates speed-gear mismatch ("low speed with high gear"), causing severe vehicle vibration and potential stalling. While skip-shifting isn't allowed, accidental wrong gear selection may occur during driving (e.g. shifting from 1st to 4th gear instead of 1st to 2nd), so special attention is required during upshifting.