Should the Clutch Be Pressed When Braking in a Manual Transmission?
2 Answers
Whether to press the clutch when braking in a manual transmission depends on different situations: 1. Normally, do not press the clutch when decelerating; 2. In emergency situations, the clutch and brake should be pressed simultaneously. The method to start a manual transmission car is: 1. Turn on the ignition switch and start the engine; 2. Press the clutch pedal, shift the gear lever into first gear, and release the handbrake; 3. Slowly release the clutch pedal and press the accelerator. Manual transmission gears can be divided into: 1. First gear is the starting gear, used when the car begins to move; 2. Second gear is the passing gear; 3. Third gear is the transition gear; 4. Fourth gear is the driving gear; 5. Fifth gear is the high-speed gear.
I remember being particularly conflicted about this when I first drove a manual transmission car. Actually, veteran drivers with 20 years of experience will tell you that it all depends on speed and deceleration needs. When creeping at low speeds or during emergency braking, never press the clutch—otherwise, you lose engine braking, which actually increases stopping distance and is very dangerous. If you want to smoothly decelerate on the highway, first apply the brake until speed drops to around 30 km/h, then press the clutch to shift gears. For stopping at intersections, brake first to reduce speed, and when the tachometer drops to around 1000 RPM, quickly press the clutch to prevent stalling. Driving a manual is like dancing—coordinating the rhythm of braking and clutch work keeps you from stumbling. Now, when going downhill on mountain roads, I’ve gotten used to using lower gears to control speed, which puts much less strain on the braking system.
