Should You Press the Clutch or Brake When Reversing?

[Jenna]

When reversing, you should press both the clutch and brake. Below is the sequence of operations when reversing: 1. When the speed is relatively high: Brake first, then clutch. Pressing the brake pedal engages both the braking system and the deceleration system. When the engine speed drops to idle, press the clutch to downshift. This prevents the engine from stalling. Pressing the clutch disengages the engine from the transmission system, effectively putting the car in neutral and allowing it to slow down by inertia, which is very slow and insufficient for rapid deceleration at high speeds. 2. When the speed is relatively low: You can directly press the clutch. If the speed is low, such as in 1st or 2nd gear, pressing the clutch for braking is also acceptable. 3. For slight deceleration: Simply easing off the accelerator may suffice. For instance, when approaching a traffic light or if the brake lights of the car ahead come on, sometimes just easing off the accelerator can slow the car down. If it is confirmed safe to proceed, neither the brake nor the clutch needs to be pressed.