When starting a manual transmission car, should you engage the gear first or release the handbrake first?
2 Answers
When starting a manual transmission car, you should engage the gear first, then release the handbrake. As a beginner, the reason for engaging the gear before releasing the handbrake during startup is primarily for safety considerations. When starting, the driver may not know whether the ground is level. If it's on a slope, releasing the handbrake first would leave the car in a neutral coasting state, causing the vehicle to roll in the direction of the slope without any braking, which could easily lead to a safety accident. However, if you engage the gear first and then release the handbrake, the car in first gear will receive a force from the engine idle speed. This force can prevent the vehicle from rolling backward in neutral, effectively avoiding potential dangers. Therefore, the correct starting procedure for a manual transmission should be: press the clutch, press the brake, engage the gear, release the handbrake, release the brake, lift the clutch, and start moving. The sequence for stopping is the opposite of starting. When parking, you should first apply the handbrake and then shift to neutral. This ensures the vehicle won't move to the greatest extent possible. This is because many people tend to release the clutch and brake after shifting to neutral. If the gear isn't properly engaged in neutral or the parking spot is on a slope, the vehicle may move.
I remember when learning to drive, the instructor particularly emphasized that starting a manual transmission must strictly follow the steps: press the clutch, shift into gear, and then slowly release the handbrake. This sequence is especially crucial on slopes because if you release the handbrake first, the car is very prone to rolling backward. I once tried it on a small slope and almost bumped into the car behind me. Especially at places like parking lot exits where you need to swipe a card while also watching the traffic, shifting into gear first and then releasing the handbrake can ensure a stable stop. It's recommended for beginners to put a small reminder in the car. Once you develop this habit, learning hill-start techniques will be much easier, and you’ll rarely stall the engine.
