Driving help..please answer?

Paul K

Quite amazing, 10 answers so far and only Taf has it correct.

The correct sequence is:

1.Check main and appropriate directional mirror
2.Apply a signal if this would help any other road user
3.Take your foot off the accelerator
4.Steer towards the kerb at a shallow angle
5.Gently brake to slow the car down
6.Align the car parallel to the kerb
7.Depress the clutch one to two cars lengths before stopping
8.As the car is coming to rest, release the pressure on the brake slightly to make for a smooth stop.
9.Apply the handbrake
10.Select neutral gear
11.Cancel any signal
12.Rest your feet

You will need to adjust the timing of steps 3, 5 and 7 depending on your speed, gear and the gradient of the road.

Try to avoid coasting (driving with your clutch down) as much as you can, but your clutch should be fully down before the car starts to shudder. When you take your foot off the accelerator but have the clutch up, the engine provides some braking which is eliminated when the clutch is down. This means that when you coast, you need to put extra pressure on the brakes which gives you less control over the car.

Coasting is, whilst undesirable, completely legal.

Taf

Mirror, signal, manouvre (get in alignment), then gently braking and depress clutch at last moment to stop the car from stalling.

When you depress the clutch you have disengaged the gears and are not in full control. In that condition you do not want to be making any manouvre (pulling over) and so you don't do it until you need to ie. to stop the stalling at the moment before you come to a halt.

mat118

press brake first, and press the clutch just before you stop. If you press the clutch first the car will have no engine braking and may go faster.

Dave J

Some REALLY interesting answers!!!

I think that Taf is the only one talking any real sense.

I am not going to say, mirrors, signal manoeuvre, as that is not relevant to the question you actually asked!

Yes, you do press the clutch whilst braking. BUT it needs to be at the last possible moment, just before the car starts to struggle. If you are in a 40mph zone, and you are in 5th gear, you will obviously have to dip the clutch down a lot sooner, and it might be worth slowing down then changin down to 3rd at about 20mph, bringing the clutch back up, and keeping it up until you almost stop. This just means that you don't risk stalling the car.

The reason why you keep the clutch up is to maintain control of the vehicle. Same with an emergency stop - keep the clutch UP unless you wanna slide. If you put the clutch down it's your brakes versus friction between tyres and road - I think in an emergency, your brakes will win that one - enjoy going sideways!

Superleague32

Hi, I am a driving instructor so can offer you help. You have heard of MSM? Mirror, signal, manoevoure. After you have checked your mirrors, signal if necessary that you are pulling over and then begin pulling in. Find a safe place to pull over and then apply the method which I teach to my pupils which is called BBC! This means, BRAKE, BEFORE CLUTCH. Firstly start to break gently, cover your clutch (dont depress it yet) once you are in your position ready to stop, brake more firmly, then just before you stop press the clutch down all the way and break gently to a complete stop. Never push the clutch in before the brake as this is called coasting and can be dangerous.

Wine Me Dine Me 69Me

Hi having done your MSM routine if you are pulling over to stop then there is no need to change down gears brake first depressing the clutch before coming to a complete stop so as to avoid shuddering and stalling.

Good Luck

Fellside13

If you press the clutch while braking you are effectively freewheeling which is illegal.

Change down through the gears to second and brake to a halt, depressing the clutch pedal as you stop.

ANDREW N

Check mirrors, indicate, and pull over if safe to do so.

Depending what gear your in you will need to change down to 2nd gear, if already in 2nd brake gently, THEN apply clutch, at this point you can put the car into neutral if preffered, or just leave in 2nd, whilst brake and clutch are both engaged, slow to a stop, handbrake on, and change into neutral, THEN release both clutch and brake.

If facing uphill, ensure 1st gear is engaged, before leaving car.

If facing downhill, ensure Reverse gear is engaged, before leaving car.

If on level road, ok to leave in 1st, or neutral.

Peter M

You are obviously not driving an automatic so the rules are different to if you were.

With gears and a clutch you have your engine engaged in drive, so if we are talking about an "emergency" stop then you would hit the clutch and brake pedal at the same time.

Your question about pulling over correctly is something different ~ first off you check that no vehicle is close behind you, [that's when you use your rear view mirror] that you have space to move over and break.

Always be aware of what is behind you as well as what is coming up in front of you.

scanny

change to 2nd gear? why? you dont need to change gear at all. put the clutch in and press the brake pedal. you only need to change gear if you need to accelerate again

evan b

no clue, get an automatic or grab a parent... back in the day they never had automatics, automatic transmission was extra... a whole lot money

Trebor Wyn R

Andrew, you are right, Scanny have you ever had a brake failier? a good driver does not rely on his/her brakes.

imysworld

put clutch in then break, Im learning to drive atm, got my test next week!

Good luck!

Todd L

I always press the clutch in while braking and shift to neutral if coming to a complete stop. It is just another was to save gas. You can do it any way you want though.

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