Should You Downshift Through All Gears When Stopping in Fifth Gear?
2 Answers
When slowing down to stop, you can directly apply the brakes, then press the clutch when the engine speed drops close to idle, and shift to neutral after coming to a complete stop. Additional information about gears is as follows: 1. Automatic Transmission: As the name suggests, an automatic transmission does not require the driver to manually shift gears. The vehicle automatically selects the appropriate gear based on driving speed and traffic conditions. Typically, automatic transmission vehicles have six gear positions, arranged from top to bottom as: P, R, N, D, S, L. 2. Manual Transmission: A manual transmission is a gear-shifting device used to alter the speed and torque transmitted from the engine to the drive wheels. It enables the vehicle to achieve different traction and speed under various conditions such as starting from a standstill, climbing hills, turning corners, and accelerating, while also allowing the engine to operate within a more favorable range.
From a safe driving perspective, it's not necessary to downshift sequentially from fifth gear to first when coming to a stop. In my daily driving, I simply apply the brakes to slow down, and when the speed drops to nearly stopping, I press the clutch and shift to neutral. Driving instructors teach sequential downshifting mainly to familiarize students with the speed range matching each gear, but in real driving, who actually downshifts from fifth to first every time? The most crucial thing is to control speed with the brakes and press the clutch in time to prevent the car from stalling. Once, I tried coasting in neutral from 40 km/h to the stop line in fifth gear—as long as you observe the road conditions in advance, it's much more convenient than sequential downshifting. Of course, beginners who just got their license should follow the instructor's teachings, but once they become more coordinated and experienced, they'll naturally know how to operate more smoothly.
