Will stepping on the accelerator during a hill start result in penalty points?
5 Answers
Stepping on the accelerator during a hill start will not result in penalty points. Before releasing the handbrake, it is best to observe the road conditions ahead. If it is an uphill or downhill slope, it is advisable to press the brake with your right foot, slowly release the clutch, and when the vehicle starts to shake significantly, keep the clutch pedal steady with your left foot while gradually releasing the brake with your right foot. Once the vehicle starts moving, completely release the brake. The penalty criteria for hill starts are as follows: 1. After the vehicle stops, if the front bumper of the car or the front axle of the motorcycle is not aligned with the pole line and exceeds 50 cm in either direction, it is considered a failure; 2. After the vehicle stops, if the front bumper of the car or the front axle of the motorcycle is not aligned with the pole line but does not exceed 50 cm in either direction, 10 points will be deducted (originally 20 points); 3. After the vehicle stops, if the body is more than 30 cm but less than 50 cm away from the road edge line, 10 points will be deducted (originally 20 points); 4. After the vehicle stops, if the body is more than 50 cm away from the road edge line, 100 points will be deducted; 5. After the vehicle starts, if it rolls back 10-30 cm, 10 points will be deducted; 6. After the vehicle starts, if it rolls back more than 30 cm, the test is considered a failure; 7. If the engine stalls once due to improper operation, 10 points will be deducted; 8. After the vehicle stops, if it is not started within 30 seconds, it is considered a failure due to timeout; 9. If the parking brake is not tightened after stopping, 10 points will be deducted; 10. If the vehicle rides or presses on the solid edge line of the road while moving, it is considered a failure.
When I was taking my driving test back then, the instructor repeatedly emphasized not to touch the accelerator during hill starts. The test vehicles had their idle speed set particularly high, allowing a steady start with just the clutch and brake. Pressing the accelerator would result in the examiner directly marking it as improper operation, deducting 10 points at once. During one mock test, I instinctively pressed the accelerator and got scolded by the instructor for a long time. He said that while you could do that in real driving, the test rules were a different matter. In the Category 2 test evaluation criteria, improper coordination between the accelerator and clutch is considered incorrect operation, leading to point deductions or even failing the test. So during the test, you had to control your right foot—first slowly release the clutch until the car's front slightly lifts, then release the brake to find the biting point. This method was far more reliable than stomping on the accelerator.
As a driving school instructor, I've seen too many students fail due to improper throttle control during hill starts. The examination system is extremely sensitive—the moment the sensor detects throttle opening exceeding 5%, points are immediately deducted. Some test vehicles are equipped with anti-cheating devices that trigger alarms at the slightest pedal touch. I teach students to first adjust their mindset and avoid stomping the accelerator when nervous—the key to hill starts lies in accurately finding the clutch's friction point. Some trainees develop a habit of pressing the accelerator during practice, but exam vehicles have higher idle speeds, providing sufficient torque the moment the brake is released. While adding throttle is acceptable when driving family cars, exam rules must be strictly followed—many only regret ignoring this detail after failing their test.
In the Subject 2 driving test, you should treat the gas pedal as a mere decoration, especially during the hill start section. A friend of mine suffered a big loss in last week's test because of this: the car rolled back 20 cm, costing him 10 points, and then he panicked and stepped on the gas, losing another 10 points, resulting in a failing score of 89. The examiner said the test car had been adjusted—a 1.5L engine idling at 900 rpm is enough to push a 1.3-ton vehicle. The correct operation is to pull up the handbrake, slowly release the clutch until the car body shakes, and when the tachometer needle slightly jumps, release the handbrake to start. Experienced drivers are used to stepping on the gas to prevent stalling, but this action will be judged as a risky operation in the test. Remember: the test only evaluates how well you follow the rules, not your actual driving skills.
I always remind my trainees that the clutch is ten times more important than the throttle during hill starts. The idle speed of the test car is designed 30% higher than that of private cars, so there's no need to press the throttle at all. Last week during training, I tested it—if the clutch engagement point isn't found within three seconds of releasing the brake, 80% of people will instinctively press the throttle. This action directly deducts 10 points in Subject 2. Some test centers have intelligent evaluation systems where throttle depth sensors exceeding the threshold will immediately count as a mistake. Although in real manual driving, steep slopes require coordination between throttle and clutch, the exam rules clearly specify the operation sequence. It's best to practice the coordination rhythm between the foot brake and clutch in advance.
