Should You Press the Clutch When Lightly Braking?
3 Answers
Lightly braking does not require pressing the clutch. Reasons for not needing to press the clutch: Pressing the clutch is considered as shifting into neutral. At this time, braking is equivalent to braking in neutral, which increases the braking distance and thus raises the danger of driving, especially on highways where rear-end collisions are more likely to occur. Therefore, many experienced drivers would rather let the engine stall than press the clutch. When you need to press the clutch: The clutch should be pressed during emergency braking. When a car performs an emergency stop, if there is no clutch, the engine speed will drop sharply due to its rigid connection with the transmission system. As a result, all moving parts within it will generate very large inertial torques (the value of which may far exceed the maximum torque produced during normal engine operation), imposing loads on the transmission system that exceed its bearing capacity and potentially causing damage to the components.
With twenty years of driving experience, I've learned that pressing the clutch when lightly braking is completely unnecessary. For example, when driving on a flat road at speeds above 20 km/h, a slight tap on the brake to decelerate won't cause the engine to stall as long as the RPM hasn't dropped too low and the engine is still running. Constantly engaging the clutch only increases wear, overheats the clutch plate, and raises fuel consumption. I make it a habit to press the clutch only when the speed drops very low, like below 5 km/h when preparing to stop, to prevent stalling. This approach saves hassle and money, reducing repair costs and fuel expenses in the long run. Developing sensible habits is key, especially in congested urban areas—avoid unnecessary clutch operations. Driving is an art; practice to find the right balance and don't let trivial actions spoil the joy of driving.
I just learned to drive recently, and I'm quite confused about this issue. At first, when the instructor was teaching, I was always afraid the car would suddenly stall, so I'd panic and step on the clutch whenever I braked. Later, I realized that when lightly braking under stable road conditions, like slowing down on the highway, the engine RPM is still high, and there's really no need to touch the clutch. Now I understand that frequently pressing the clutch just makes the car idle, reducing control; once, I caused a skid by randomly pressing it during a rainy turn. Newbie friends, remember: when braking lightly above 10 km/h, just release the clutch—it's safer and more fuel-efficient. Get more road practice, and you'll adapt; brakes and clutches are used separately—don't overcomplicate it.
