Should You Press the Clutch During Intermittent Braking in Subject 3?
3 Answers
No, it's not necessary. You only need to lightly press the brake pedal, and generally, there's no need to press the clutch. For example, when passing through intersections or when the speed is slightly high, intermittent braking is sufficient. First, approach it without any psychological pressure and maintain a calm mindset. It's recommended to familiarize yourself with the road by taking a test drive before the exam. Being able to drive doesn't guarantee passing the road test, so knowing the road conditions and necessary precautions is always better than not knowing. Below is relevant information: Intermittent braking: First, press the brake slightly. When you feel the car decelerating noticeably, release the brake (but not completely). When you feel the car is about to lose braking control, press the brake again. Repeat this cycle. The intermittent braking technique is used to avoid locking the wheels by not pressing the brake too hard, which could prevent steering. Exam content: The Subject 3 road driving skills test includes: preparation for large buses, tractors, city buses, medium-sized buses, large trucks, small cars, small automatic transmission cars, low-speed cargo trucks, and small automatic transmission cars for disabled passengers. The test covers preparation before starting, simulated nighttime lighting test, starting, driving straight, gear shifting operations, changing lanes, parking by the roadside, going straight through intersections, left turns at intersections, etc.
When I was practicing for the Driving Test Part 3, the instructor repeatedly emphasized: never depress the clutch during light braking! Light braking is meant to gently tap the brake to reduce speed, not to come to a complete stop. The clutch should only be used when fully stopping or shifting gears. The same applies to regular driving—when approaching a red light and needing to slow down, just lightly tap the brake twice without touching the clutch. At higher speeds, braking won’t stall the engine; only when almost stopped should you press the clutch. During my test, I performed light braking at the crosswalk without touching the clutch, and passed smoothly. During practice, pay attention to the relationship between speed and engine RPM—once you get used to it, you’ll naturally know when to press the clutch.
Last week, I accompanied my cousin to the driving test site for practice. He nervously asked the examiner this question, and the examiner said that there's no need to press the clutch when performing a light brake. This makes sense because the core of a light brake is quick deceleration, and pressing the clutch actually causes the vehicle to lose engine braking effect. It's like coasting downhill with the clutch pressed, which can increase the braking distance. The test regulations particularly emphasize whether the vehicle is stable, and randomly pressing the clutch can easily cause jerking. However, there is a special situation: when the speed is below 10 km/h during a light brake, you may need to coordinate with the clutch to prevent stalling. When encountering test items like pedestrian crossings, bus stops, or intersections, it's safest to slow down to around 20 km/h in advance and then apply a light brake.
