Should You Engage the Gear or Release the Handbrake First When Starting the Car?
2 Answers
When starting the car, you should engage the gear first and then release the handbrake. Below is relevant information about the handbrake: 1. Definition: The parking brake, commonly known as the handbrake, functions to provide resistance when parking, preventing the car from rolling. The parking brake, whether it's a handbrake or the parking gear in an automatic transmission, locks the drive shaft or rear wheels. The force of the parking brake is much weaker than that of the service brake, just enough to prevent the car from rolling on a slope. 2. Classification: There are different types of parking brakes, such as the mechanical systems operated by hand or foot as mentioned above. Additionally, high-end vehicles are increasingly adopting electronically controlled parking systems, commonly referred to as electronic handbrakes.
As an experienced manual transmission driver, my starting routine is to shift into gear first and then release the handbrake. After the car comes to a complete stop, I start the engine, depress the clutch pedal, and shift into first gear—at this point, the vehicle is ready with power. Then, I gradually release the clutch pedal while lightly pressing the accelerator pedal. When I feel the car is about to move forward, I quickly release the handbrake. Getting the sequence wrong can easily lead to rolling back on slopes. I remember once starting on a steep mountain slope when a friend released the handbrake too early, causing the car to roll back and nearly hit the guardrail—luckily, I corrected it in time. The key to safe driving lies in steady and methodical actions. Checking the handbrake's responsiveness and road conditions before starting is also crucial to protect the vehicle from clutch wear. Developing good habits makes driving more reassuring.
