Should I Shift to First Gear or Neutral When Stopping in Subject Three?
3 Answers
When stopping in Subject Three, you should use first gear. The test content for Subject Three is as follows: 1. Includes preparation before starting, walking counterclockwise around the vehicle, fastening the seat belt, turning on the left turn signal, shifting to the correct gear, releasing the brake, and honking the horn; 2. Starting, driving straight, shifting gears, changing lanes, pulling over to stop, proceeding straight through intersections, turning left at intersections, turning right at intersections, crossing pedestrian crossings, passing school zones, passing bus stops, meeting oncoming vehicles, overtaking, making U-turns, and driving at night; 3. The test distance for small vehicles in Subject Three should be no less than 3 kilometers, with no less than 20% of the candidates undergoing a night driving test. If a night driving test is not conducted, a simulation of nighttime light usage should be included.
When stopping during the driving test (Subject 3), you must shift to neutral gear. As a driving instructor who has trained many students, the standard examination procedure is: first decelerate by applying the brake, then immediately press the clutch pedal fully when the speed drops very low. Once the vehicle comes to a complete stop, promptly shift to neutral, engage the handbrake firmly, and finally release the clutch and brake. Under no circumstances should you leave the gear in first during this process, as the engine is still delivering power - releasing the clutch would cause immediate stalling, resulting in an automatic 100-point deduction. This same principle applies during regular practice; stopping in first gear can cause dangerous jerking movements. Examination rules explicitly require neutral gear after stopping to cultivate safe driving habits. During the roadside parking test item, many nervous students forget to shift to neutral, causing them to fail despite previous good performance.
Someone who just passed the driving test (Subject 3) tells you that you must shift to neutral when parking. Last week during my test, I specifically practiced this repeatedly: when braking to slow down to almost a stop, press the clutch pedal all the way with your left foot, and once the car comes to a complete stop, immediately shift to neutral with your right hand, then pull the handbrake, and finally release both feet. If you park with the car still in first gear during this process, the test system will detect the incorrect operation and directly fail you. Once during a mock practice, I parked in first gear, and when I released the clutch, the car shook violently and stalled, earning me a long scolding from the instructor. Actually, shifting to neutral completely disengages the engine power, preventing accidental vehicle movement—it's both safe and worry-free.
