Should You Shift Gear or Release the Handbrake First Before Getting in the Car?
3 Answers
Before getting in the car, you should first shift gear and then release the handbrake. The steps for starting the car after getting in are: 1. Shift the gear lever into the starting gear; 2. Sound the horn; 3. Turn on the turn signal; 4. Observe the front, sides, and rearview mirrors to check for any obstacles that might hinder starting; 5. Hold the steering wheel firmly, activate the left turn signal, and release the parking brake lever. The key to a smooth start lies in the coordination between the clutch's semi-engagement timing and the accelerator pedal. When releasing the clutch pedal, start quickly at first, then slow down as you approach the point where the engine sound changes and the car body slightly vibrates. Pause the clutch pedal at this position, gradually press the accelerator pedal, and slowly lift your left foot until the clutch is fully released.
I pay special attention to developing good habits when driving, and the starting sequence after getting in the car must never be messed up. Every time I sit in the driver's seat, I first depress the clutch and brake pedals completely, then start the engine. Only after confirming the gear is firmly engaged (either first gear or reverse) do I finally release the handbrake and begin lifting the clutch to start moving. This operational logic is crucial, especially on uphill sections - if you release the handbrake before engaging the gear, the car will instantly roll backward, which is extremely dangerous. I learned this the hard way when I first started driving, and now I repeatedly emphasize this point when teaching my wife to drive. The principle is the same for automatic transmission vehicles: depress the brake, shift to D gear, then release the handbrake to prevent unintended vehicle movement.
Having driven for half a lifetime, my experience is that the starting sequence should be handled differently depending on the situation. Most of the time, I strictly follow these steps: press the clutch, start the engine, shift into gear, and then release the handbrake. Especially in winter when the road is icy or when parked on a steep slope, you must shift into gear before releasing the brake so that the car can be stabilized immediately by the engine's traction. On flat roads, you can be a bit more flexible, but I still recommend that beginners strictly follow the standard procedures. Once, while waiting at a red light on a suburban slope, I witnessed a car in front roll back and hit the car behind because the driver released the handbrake without shifting into gear. Nowadays, new cars come with hill-start assist systems, but experienced drivers still maintain the most reliable mechanical operation habits.
