Should You Press the Accelerator When Starting on a Slope?
2 Answers
Starting on a slope does not require pressing the accelerator. The reasons for stalling during a slope start are as follows: 1. The car stalls immediately after releasing the foot brake, mainly because the left foot releases the clutch too quickly, without staying at the semi-engaged position or staying for too short a time. 2. During a semi-engaged start, if the handbrake is not released when reaching the semi-engaged point, the car will stall. When practicing slope starts, pay attention to the following points to effectively prevent stalling: 1. Slowly lift the left foot to the semi-engaged position and keep it still. In other words, as the left foot is slowly lifted, the car will gradually shake. When the shaking becomes more pronounced, the left foot is at the semi-engaged position—keep it still at this point. 2. Keep the left foot still and slowly release the foot brake with the right foot. The car will then move forward slowly. 3. After the car has moved forward a certain distance, slowly release the left foot from the clutch, and the car will smoothly ascend the slope.
When I first learned to drive a manual transmission car, my instructor emphasized the importance of pressing the accelerator during a hill start. That time on a steep slope, the moment I forgot to press the accelerator, the car rolled back half a meter, almost hitting the car behind me, which made my palms sweat with fear. The instructor explained that pressing the accelerator provides power to the engine while gradually releasing the clutch prevents the car from stalling or rolling back. Especially on rainy, snowy days or steep slopes, not pressing the accelerator can be very dangerous. Now that I'm more experienced, I press the accelerator lightly during hill starts to ensure the car moves smoothly upward and avoids rear-end collisions. Driving in the city, this little trick gives me more confidence when stopping at traffic lights on slopes—safety always comes first.
