Should You Press the Clutch or Brake First When Braking?

[LeLucas]

There are no specific regulations on whether to press the clutch or brake first, but according to common practice, it is generally recommended to press the brake first to slow down, followed by the clutch. Below are the relevant explanations: 1. Parking on a Slope: Press the brake first, then the clutch. When performing a hill start or parking on a slope, if you press the clutch first, the car will be in neutral, losing engine resistance, which may cause the vehicle to roll backward. Therefore, when parking on a slope, press the brake first, then the clutch. 2. Emergency Braking or Deceleration at High Speed: Press the brake first, then the clutch. The higher the speed, the greater the inertia. If you press the clutch first, the car's inertia will increase further, leading to the danger of coasting in neutral. Thus, you must press the brake first to reduce the speed. 3. Stopping at a Red Light: Press the clutch first, then the brake. The lower the speed, the greater the frictional resistance between the tires and the ground. Pressing the brake first in this situation may cause the engine to stall. Therefore, when stopping at a red light, press the clutch first, then the brake.