Should You Tap the Brake When Driving Straight Through an Intersection in Subject Three?
2 Answers
When driving straight through an intersection in Subject Three, it is necessary to tap the brake. Here are the specific details: 1. Driving straight through an intersection: When approaching an intersection ahead, follow the traffic signals if present; if there are no signals, adhere to safety principles. In either case, it is essential to tap the brake in advance to slow down, then proceed when the light turns green or after confirming it is safe. 2. Turning left or right at an intersection: The gear requirements may vary by region, but before entering the turn, tapping the brake to reduce speed is always correct. 3. Passing through a crosswalk: Upon seeing a crosswalk ahead, regardless of whether there are pedestrians crossing, you must press the brake to slow down. 4. On flat roads with light traffic: If the speed is above 30 km/h and only a brief brake application is needed, lightly tap the brake pedal without pressing the clutch pedal.
When practicing for the driving test's third section, the instructor always reminds me that I must tap the brake when going straight through an intersection! He says this is a mandatory requirement for the test—failure to do so results in an automatic fail. I've observed the examiner's scoring sheet, and the deductions for not observing and not slowing down at intersections are separate. That brake tap doesn't need to be too harsh; just reduce the speed below 30 km/h—the key is to let the test car's system detect the braking signal. However, once when driving a friend's car through an intersection, he laughed and patted my leg, saying, 'Don’t be nervous, seasoned driver.' Turns out, in a private car, you just need to ease off the gas and control your speed in advance at an empty intersection. But the test and reality are two different things. I suggest you practice the test route multiple times before the exam, memorize every intersection where you need to brake, and build muscle memory—that’s the most reliable approach.
