Should You Press the Clutch in an S-Turn?
3 Answers
No need to press the clutch. Here are the detailed explanations: S-Turn Driving Test Tips: Before entering a left turn, keep the vehicle to the right, using the left front corner of the car to follow the right edge line. When transitioning to a right turn, straighten the steering wheel, enter the right turn, and use the right front corner of the car to follow the left edge line. Once safely out of the curve, straighten the steering wheel again. Before entering a right turn, keep the vehicle to the left, using the right front corner of the car to follow the left edge line. When transitioning to a left turn, straighten the steering wheel, enter the left turn, and use the left front corner of the car to follow the right edge line. Once safely out of the curve, straighten the steering wheel again. Precautions: When entering a curve, reduce speed in advance and keep to the right. Avoid turning the steering wheel too quickly or sharply. Choose the path with the largest turning radius whenever possible. Avoid using the brakes, especially emergency braking. Check the rearview mirrors—learning to use them is essential. Also, master the clutch by using the half-clutch technique.
After driving a manual transmission car for so many years, the most common thing I do when taking S-curves is to completely lift my foot off the clutch pedal. When the speed is controlled within the range of 20-30 km/h, maintaining a steady speed in second gear is most appropriate, and the left foot can just stay idle. Back in driving school, the instructor always emphasized not to randomly press the clutch, as holding it down for too long would accelerate the wear of the clutch plates and could easily cause the car to sway more severely from side to side. Nowadays, when taking sharp turns, I gently apply the throttle with my right foot and turn the steering wheel in rhythm with the curve—the whole set of movements feels as natural as dancing. Only when encountering particularly tight turns do I engage the clutch halfway, but never for more than two seconds, mainly relying on the throttle to fine-tune the speed. This habit saves the car and ensures safety; after driving mountain roads, there's no burnt smell from the clutch at all.
When I first learned to drive a manual transmission, I was particularly afraid of S-curves, always fearing stalling and thus keeping the clutch pedal pressed down. As a result, my instructor scolded me several times, saying this would cause issues with the rear wheels' grip. It wasn't until I drove hundreds of kilometers on mountain roads that I understood: as long as the speed is steady and no gear change is needed, the clutch should be completely released. A relative who drives a taxi shared a trick with me: downshift to second gear before entering the curve, lightly hold the brake with the right foot to adjust speed, and add a bit of throttle at the curve's apex to maintain power. Keeping the left foot still throughout actually makes the car more responsive. If you see the rear wheels of the car in front drifting, it's likely due to excessive clutch use causing unstable engine speed.
