Should You Press the Clutch When Decelerating in Subject Three?
3 Answers
The method to determine whether to press the clutch when decelerating is as follows: If the speed is higher than third gear, there is no need to press the clutch; simply use the 'tap brake' method, which involves pressing and releasing the brake pedal. If the speed slows down and the gear is in 2nd or 1st gear, and you feel a lack of power, not pressing the clutch while braking will directly shut off the engine. In this case, the student should simultaneously press both the brake and clutch. The correct method for decelerating in Subject Three: On flat roads with few vehicles, when the speed is above 30km/h and only a short brake is needed, lightly tap the brake pedal without pressing the clutch pedal. When passing bus stops, school zones, waiting at traffic lights, in traffic jams, or parking... these situations require shifting into a lower gear while pressing both the clutch and brake pedals. How to coordinate the clutch and brake: Automatic transmission cars do not have a clutch pedal, so you can directly press the brake. When driving at high speed or normal speed and only needing to slow down, there is no need to press the clutch. When taking a curve, first press the brake to decelerate; after the curve, if there are no obstacles, you don’t need to press the clutch—release the brake and press the accelerator to speed up. If there is an obstacle right after the curve, press the clutch and shift into a lower gear.
Whether to press the clutch when decelerating depends on the vehicle speed and the situation. With over 20 years of driving experience, I’ve learned that when slowing down a manual transmission car, first lightly tap the brake to test the RPM. If the speed is still above 30 km/h, you generally don’t need to touch the clutch—just brake to reduce speed. However, if you’re coming to a full stop or the speed drops to around 15 km/h, you absolutely must press the clutch; otherwise, the engine will stall, which would cost you points in a driving test. When teaching beginners, I always emphasize practicing the feel and avoiding bad habits. For example, when decelerating downhill, light braking is sufficient. But if you need to stop at a traffic light, you must promptly press the clutch while braking. This detail is especially tested in the driving test (Subject 3), where examiners check if you’re randomly pressing the clutch. So, practice more in safe, open areas to master deceleration safely.
As someone who just passed the driving test, I'd like to share my experience. During the practice for Subject 3, the instructor repeatedly emphasized the timing of clutch engagement when decelerating: don't press it at high speeds, but do so when the speed drops below idle or when preparing to stop. At first, I kept forgetting - once I failed to press the clutch while slowing down for a turn, causing the engine to stall, and got scolded badly. Later, I learned that normal coasting deceleration only requires braking when speed is around 20 km/h, but below 10 km/h, the clutch must be pressed to prevent stalling. The test requires standardized operations - don't over-press due to nervousness, but don't ignore it completely either. With more practice, you'll develop a rhythm. Remember: safety first, no risks.
