How to Stop a Manual Transmission Car at a Red Light?
2 Answers
I believe everyone still remembers the lessons from driving school. When stopping a manual transmission car at a traffic light, the usual practice is to shift to neutral and engage the handbrake. When there are about 5 seconds left, you can start by pressing the clutch—shifting to first gear—pressing the brake—releasing the handbrake, and then waiting to start. It is essential to shift to neutral when waiting at a red light in a manual transmission car. Some novice drivers might keep pressing the clutch, thinking it's fine and convenient for a quick start. However, this is quite dangerous because the foot can easily get fatigued, and pressing the clutch often requires significant force, which can lead to loss of control and cause the car to lurch forward, resulting in an accident. Before starting, observe the distance to the car in front and check the situation in the left and right rearview mirrors to assess the surroundings. This helps prevent scratches and rear-end collisions. After all, minor scratches during the morning commute or evening rush hour can leave both parties feeling unhappy. After shifting to neutral, it's best to engage the handbrake. If the stop is brief, you can lightly press the brake. Even on relatively flat roads, this is necessary because driving is a long-term activity, and safety should always come first. Strive to develop the best driving habits to prevent oversights caused by carelessness.
As a beginner in manual transmission, I spent some time figuring out the correct method when stopping at a red light. Before the red light, start braking to slow down, and after the car comes to a complete stop, immediately press the clutch pedal to prevent the engine from stalling. Then shift the gear to neutral, which allows you to release the clutch and avoid keeping your foot pressed down, preventing leg fatigue. Next, engage the handbrake to secure the vehicle—this works on both flat ground and slopes, as not using the handbrake on a slope can cause the car to roll back and hit the vehicle behind. During the red light, I can relax my foot or pay attention to the signal change. When the light turns green, quickly press the clutch, shift into first gear, release the handbrake, and gently apply the throttle to start moving. This sequence requires practice for coordination but helps protect the clutch and reduce wear. Initially, I tried waiting at a red light by keeping the car in a low gear with the clutch pressed, but my foot went numb, and my instructor corrected me about the high risk. Now that I'm used to it, it feels much simpler and safer.
