Should You Release the Handbrake or Shift Gear First When Driving?
2 Answers
The correct starting posture should be to shift gear first, then release the handbrake. Here are the relevant explanations: 1. As a beginner, the reason for shifting gear before releasing the handbrake when starting is mainly for safety considerations. Because when starting on a slope, releasing the handbrake first will put the car in a neutral coasting state, causing the vehicle to slide in the direction of the slope without any braking, which can easily lead to safety accidents. 2. However, if you shift gear first and then release the handbrake, the car will receive a force from the engine idle when in first gear. This force can prevent the vehicle from rolling backward in neutral, effectively avoiding potential dangers. 3. Therefore, the correct starting posture for a manual transmission should be: press the clutch, press the brake, shift gear, release the handbrake, release the brake, lift the clutch, and start moving.
When I first learned to drive, my instructor always emphasized starting the car by pressing the brake pedal first, then shifting into D or R gear—a routine as crucial as loading a save file before gaming. If you release the handbrake before shifting, the car might creep, especially on sloped parking lots or slippery roads, feeling as risky as driving without a seatbelt and potentially damaging the brake discs. Safety-wise, this habit prevents accidents; once, I accidentally released the handbrake first at my neighborhood entrance, and the car slid a few centimeters, nearly hitting a neighbor's fence—quite a scare. Forming the right sequence is simple: sit firmly, start the engine, wait for it to stabilize, shift gears, then release the handbrake, which also extends vehicle lifespan. Note: Some models may have automatic gear assists, but the fundamentals remain unchanged.
