How to Drive a Manual Transmission Car in Stop-and-Go Traffic?
3 Answers
When driving a manual transmission car in stop-and-go traffic, it's essential to maintain an appropriate following distance and try to reduce your speed. The most challenging situation for manual transmission drivers is navigating through congested roads, especially for beginners who have just started driving manual cars, as stalling is a common issue. A manual transmission, also known as a mechanical gearbox, requires the driver to manually shift gears by moving the gear lever to change the gear engagement inside the transmission, altering the gear ratio to achieve speed variation. The gear lever can only be moved when the clutch pedal is depressed.
I've been driving manual transmission for fifteen years, and traffic jams really test your footwork. Press the clutch pedal all the way down with your left foot, shift into first gear, lightly tap the throttle to reach 1500 RPM, slowly release the clutch to the biting point, and once you feel the car about to move, hold the clutch steady. As soon as the car in front moves, follow suit, and when the distance narrows to about two meters, quickly press the clutch and brake. The trick is not to tailgate—leave about half a car's length to coast, saving both fuel and clutch wear. For long uphill traffic jams, use the handbrake to assist. When starting, give a little throttle before releasing the handbrake, keep a firm grip on the steering wheel, and avoid competing for space with adjacent cars.
As a female driver commuting with a manual transmission during rush hours, I rely on three tricks for stop-and-go traffic. First, wearing flat shoes ensures better clutch pedal feel. Second, adjusting the seat forward slightly with knees slightly bent allows for more precise clutch control. When following traffic, I often use idle speed to creep forward—releasing the clutch and giving a little gas when the car ahead moves, then pressing the clutch and braking as soon as I start moving. For long red lights, I always shift to neutral and engage the handbrake to rest my right foot and avoid fatigue. I always keep spare clutch fluid in the trunk—once, I was stuck on an elevated highway for two hours, and the clutch started emitting a burnt smell.
