What is the correct method for shifting from 3rd gear to 1st gear?
2 Answers
3rd gear to 1st gear correct shifting method: Press the clutch with your left foot and the brake with your right foot. When the speedometer needle drops below 10 mph, you can skip 2nd gear and shift directly to 1st gear. When downshifting from a higher gear, you must reduce speed; otherwise, it may damage the engine. To downshift, first press the brake to slow down. Once the speed is sufficiently reduced, immediately release the brake and press the clutch. Especially when the car body shakes, quickly press the clutch with your left foot to avoid stalling. While pressing the clutch with your left foot, use your right hand to shift gears. At this time, avoid looking down at the gearshift—your focus should remain on the road ahead. With only one hand on the steering wheel, you must grip it firmly to maintain control. The right-hand gearshift should be done swiftly.
Having taught driving for so many years, the key to shifting from 3rd gear to 1st gear is speed matching. When driving at speeds above 30 km/h, don't push directly from 3rd gear to 1st gear, as this will cause severe impact on the transmission gears. The correct approach is to brake and slow down to below 10 km/h, press the clutch with your left foot, shift into neutral with your right hand and pause briefly, wait for the RPM to drop, then shift into 1st gear. When starting on a steep slope, you can slow down to around 5 km/h and shift directly to 1st gear, but doing this on flat city roads will cause noticeable jerking. I recommend that beginners practice more in open areas to find the optimal speed point for shifting in their own cars.