Should You Press the Clutch When Slowing Down at an Intersection?
4 Answers
When slowing down at an intersection, you should press the clutch, as you cannot shift gears without depressing the clutch pedal. As the car's speed decreases, the gear should also be lowered. If the speed decreases without a corresponding gear change, it will result in a situation of high gear at low speed. Here are some relevant details: 1. When a car is in high gear at low speed, it may experience jerking, and in severe cases, the engine may stall, posing safety risks. When braking, you should also press the clutch pedal simultaneously to facilitate timely gear shifting. Once the gear shift is completed, release the clutch pedal. 2. Manual transmission cars typically have five gears, though some models now feature six gears. The more gears a car has, the smoother and quicker the gear shifts will be, with less jerking. When driving downhill, you should not coast with the clutch pressed, as this will accelerate clutch wear and create potential safety hazards. 3. The correct approach is to shift the car into a lower gear and use engine braking to assist in descending the hill, which can also extend the car's lifespan.
I've driven manual transmission cars for half my life, and whether to depress the clutch when slowing down at intersections depends on the situation. If the speed is still relatively high, say above 40 km/h, I just apply the brakes to slow down without touching the clutch. This way, I can utilize engine braking to make the car more stable and save wear on the brake pads. When the speed drops below 20 km/h and I feel the car starting to shake, I immediately press the clutch to prevent stalling in the middle of the road and blocking traffic. Especially on rainy days or uneven roads, not depressing the clutch can easily lead to loss of control. Additionally, it's important to pay attention to the traffic behind. If there's a car following closely, the deceleration should be more gradual to avoid being rear-ended. In short, adjusting flexibly according to road conditions is the safest approach.
During driving school instruction, I emphasize the proper procedure for slowing down at intersections: first apply the brakes to reduce speed, then depress the clutch when the vehicle speed significantly decreases to near shift-changing speed (typically 15-20 km/h). You should never depress the clutch immediately when slowing down, as that's equivalent to coasting in neutral - not only does it violate examination requirements, but it also extends braking distance. For example, depressing the clutch prematurely at downhill intersections is particularly dangerous as it may cause skidding. If you notice the traffic light changing from yellow to red ahead, you can brake to slow down while gently tapping the accelerator to maintain engine RPM, then depress the clutch and shift to neutral at the stop line. Developing this habit can prevent many accidents while also saving fuel.
When I first started driving, I often stalled at intersections. Later, I learned that when slowing down, you need to press the clutch based on the car's speed. Now, I usually lightly press the brake to reduce the speed to around 20 km/h before pressing the clutch, which prevents jerking and avoids sudden engine stalling. For example, during morning rush hour when waiting at a red light, I start slowing down about 50 meters before the stop line and press the clutch to shift to first gear when the speed drops below 10 km/h. Remember, slowing down too quickly without pressing the clutch isn’t good either. Last month, I tried it, and the whole car shook, almost getting honked at by the driver behind. You still need to listen to the engine sound and press the clutch promptly when it sounds strained to protect the car.
