Should You Press the Clutch When Decelerating in a Manual Transmission?
1 Answers
Whether to press the clutch when decelerating in a manual transmission depends on the actual situation: 1. If the situation ahead is not very urgent and the distance is long, you can appropriately apply intermittent braking without pressing the clutch. For example, if you are at the upper limit of third gear, you can reduce speed to the lower limit of third gear through intermittent braking. If the speed drops to second gear, you should downshift. 2. If the situation ahead is very urgent, press both the clutch and brake simultaneously. Even if your left foot cannot react in time, your right foot must press the brake. The basic principle is that it's better to stall the engine than to rear-end another vehicle. 3. If the vehicles ahead are densely packed and moving slowly, intermittent braking alone may not be sufficient, and downshifting is necessary. For example, if you are originally in third gear, first reduce speed to second gear through intermittent braking, then press the clutch and lightly apply the brake to shift to second gear. After decelerating and downshifting, find the clutch engagement point with your left foot and pause for about 1 second to avoid any jerking sensation in the car.