Should the Brake Be Fully Depressed When Shifting Gears in a Manual Transmission?
2 Answers
When shifting gears in a manual transmission, the brake should not be fully depressed. Reasons for not fully depressing the brake: During gear shifting, the clutch and throttle must be coordinated properly. The clutch should be fully depressed, followed by releasing the throttle pedal, and then quickly shifting to the corresponding gear. After shifting, release your hand immediately and avoid keeping it on the gear lever for an extended period, as this can easily damage the gear lever. Correct hand position for gear shifting: It is also important to maintain the correct hand position when shifting gears. Many drivers often overlook the hand position, sometimes casually using two or three fingers to flick the gear lever, which is neither standardized nor safe. The correct hand position is to cover the gear lever head with your palm facing downward and then perform the gear shift.
Last time I practiced driving in my dad's old Jetta, the instructor yelled so loud it hurt my ears: 'When starting in first gear, you must press the clutch and brake all the way down!' I tried pressing only halfway, and the grinding gear noise made me panic. Stalling is minor, but if the car lurches forward while in gear during ignition, that's terrifying. Normally, shifting gears doesn't require braking, but when coasting to a red light, I habitually tap the brake early to control speed, then shift to neutral and brake gently to stop smoothly. Emergency brake? You gotta stomp it to the floor! Once, I almost rolled back in an underground garage—now I always press the brake hard when starting on a slope and shift gears with caution. Safety first!
