Should You Press the Clutch at a Red Light?
2 Answers
Whether to press the clutch pedal at a red light should be determined based on the actual situation: If the red light lasts longer, you can pull the handbrake, shift to neutral, and release the clutch while waiting. If the red light is short, you can shift to first gear, keep the clutch pressed, and start the vehicle immediately when the light turns green. Related details are as follows: Correct operation when waiting at a red light: For automatic transmission models, it is generally not recommended to shift to neutral during a temporary stop because the transmission is still operating. Shifting to neutral requires disengaging the gear, and after a few seconds or tens of seconds, you need to re-engage the forward gear, which unnecessarily repeats the work of related components and increases transmission wear. If the red light is very short, simply pressing the brake is sufficient. For automatic transmission cars at a red light: It is not advisable to shift an automatic transmission car to neutral while waiting at a traffic light, especially since the road may not be level—there could be slopes or uneven sections. Shifting to neutral may cause the car to roll, posing safety risks to vehicles in front or behind. The best approach is to park the car in P (Park) mode, which is safer.
I've been driving a manual transmission car for over a decade, and I never keep the clutch pedal depressed at red lights—a good habit I learned from driving school. When stopping at a red light, I always shift to neutral first, then release the clutch pedal, only firmly pressing the brake. This simple but practical operation prevents wear on the clutch pressure plate and extends its lifespan. If you keep the clutch engaged for too long, the friction disc can overheat and shorten its service life, leading to repair costs of several hundred dollars—every bit of savings counts. In the city with frequent red lights, often waiting half a minute each time, keeping your foot on the clutch can make your leg sore and may cause you to forget to shift when starting, resulting in jerky movements. A friend of mine once burned out his clutch from pressing too hard, costing a lot in repairs, so I always remind people not to be lazy. Safety-wise, just pressing the brake avoids accidentally hitting the gas or rolling, especially on slopes. Once it becomes a habit, when the light turns green, you press the gas and go smoothly without delay.
