What to Practice for the First Time in Subject 2 Driving?
4 Answers
Subject 2 first-time driving practice focuses on clutch control. Subject 2, also known as the small road test, is part of the motor vehicle driver's license assessment, specifically referring to the field driving skills test. For small vehicles (C1/C2), the exam includes the following five mandatory items (some regions may have a sixth item, highway card collection): Reverse Parking: Park the car in the designated reverse parking spot within the allotted time without crossing the yellow boundary lines on either side. Slope Fixed-point Parking and Starting: Stop the car at the designated slope starting point and start smoothly within the time limit, avoiding overtime and crossing lines. Right-angle Turn (commonly known as 90-degree turn): Complete the turn at a right-angle intersection within the specified time without touching the yellow boundary lines on either side. Parallel Parking: Slowly drive the car into the side parking spot within the time limit without touching the yellow boundary lines. Curve Driving (commonly known as S-curve): Slowly enter the S-shaped intersection and smoothly navigate through the designated route without crossing the yellow boundary lines. Practice Driving Tips: Overtaking and Lane Changing: Be decisive and firm when overtaking or changing lanes, staying as close as possible to the vehicle in front, especially on two-way lanes, to save time. Always check the traffic in the adjacent lane via the rearview mirror, assessing both distance and the speed of the following vehicle. Listening to Engine Sounds: Unusual noises occur when the speed is high but the gear is low, or when dragging the gear. Similarly, abnormal sounds and vehicle shaking can happen when driving at low speed in a high gear. Avoid Frequent Neutral Gear Usage: While coasting in neutral is possible at low speeds without compromising safety, it consumes more fuel for fuel-injected vehicles. Never coast in neutral when going downhill, as it can lead to brake failure and potential loss of vehicle control if the engine stalls.
On my first day of practicing Subject 2, the instructor started with the most basic actions: first adjusting the seat position and rearview mirror angle to ensure I was sitting comfortably and had a clear view of the road conditions; then focusing on steering wheel operations, such as turning half a turn and a full turn, to get familiar with the feel of steering weight; finally practicing simple starting and stopping, including clutch control—lifting the clutch slowly and pressing the accelerator gently to prevent stalling. There was no rush to practice reversing or turning on the first day, as these require first developing a feel for the car and hand-foot coordination. Building this foundation is very important; otherwise, practicing reversing into a parking space later would be more prone to mistakes and could affect confidence. Remember to stay relaxed, communicate more with the instructor, and reflect after each practice on what was done well and what needs improvement.
For the first lesson of Subject 2 training, I tend to emphasize basic driving skills, focusing on clutch coordination. In a manual transmission car, the clutch is the core. When starting, you need to slowly release the clutch while gently applying the throttle to maintain smooth vehicle movement and stopping. At the same time, practice observing the rearview mirrors and adjusting the seat position to ensure there are no blind spots in your field of vision. Many learners are too hasty the first time, releasing the clutch too quickly and causing the engine to stall, or oversteering, all of which stem from a weak foundation. In terms of safety, master these basics before introducing more complex maneuvers, such as hill starts, which can be practiced later. From my experience, a solid foundation can reduce mistakes later on and also improve the pass rate for the test.
When my child was learning to drive, the first practice session for Subject 2 mainly focused on familiarizing with the steering wheel and seat adjustment. After adjusting the seat and mirrors to the proper positions, they practiced turning the steering wheel left and right to get a feel for its feedback. Then, they did simple forward and backward vehicle movements to practice coordinating the clutch pedal with gentle throttle input. The emphasis wasn't on reversing or parallel parking, but rather on developing spatial awareness and hand-foot coordination through these basic maneuvers, building confidence and preventing beginners from being intimidated by difficult tasks. This approach helps reduce mistakes when practicing more complex maneuvers later and enhances safety.
