Should You Press the Brake When Starting in Subject 2?
2 Answers
You must press the brake before starting. Below are the specific details: Starting Procedure: Press the brake, lift the clutch with your left foot—you can lift it quickly at first, but be careful not to overdo it. As you approach the critical point, lift the clutch slowly until you feel the car body shaking noticeably. At this point, you can gradually release the brake. There are two scenarios: First, as soon as you release the brake, the car will start moving. Be sure to keep the clutch steady—do not move your left foot from the clutch position. Only after the car has fully started should you slowly lift the clutch completely. Second, after releasing the brake, the car may not move. This happens when the clutch is lifted exactly to the critical point, balancing between moving and not moving. In this case, the car won’t roll back, though this situation is rare. Still, remain calm and lift the clutch very slowly—just a slight lift will get the car moving.
I remember when I was preparing for my driver's license test, the instructor repeatedly emphasized the importance of stepping on the brake before starting, especially during the second part of the test, such as the hill start and stop exercises. On a slope, if you don't step on the brake, the vehicle can easily roll back, which is dangerous and could result in points deducted or even failing the test. In actual driving, stepping on the brake stabilizes the car, ensuring safety before releasing the clutch to start. After developing this habit during practice, I passed the test on my first attempt and felt more confident in my driving. Looking back now, the core of the second part of the test was to cultivate safety awareness and basic skills. Never overlook the brake when starting, especially on slopes or at stopping points. Taking an extra second to check is always better than causing an accident. This experience has also helped me avoid accidents in my daily driving. Now, after ten years of driving, I still stick to this principle.
