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Click here to send us an email | If you're a new driver, you might be wondering which pedal to press first when stopping or slowing down - the clutch or brake. It's completely natural to feel a bit confused or uncertain about this, but don't worry, we're here to help! To make things easier for you, we've got a helpful video that provides visual demonstrations of the proper technique for stopping your vehicle. It will show you exactly which pedal to press first, so you can confidently navigate the roads. Remember, as a new driver, it's important to take your time and practice your driving skills until you feel comfortable and confident behind the wheel. With a bit of practice and guidance, you'll soon be cruising around like a pro. So, sit back, relax, and check out the video below. We're confident it will provide you with all the information you need to tackle this important driving skill with ease. | | | You might also like these: | | | | | How to change gears | Clutch control | Clutch every time you brake? | When to change gear on a hill | Video on which pedal first... brake or clutch?
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| Which pedal first when stopping or slowing down? It all depends on the speed you're driving and if you're going uphill. Firstly, it's important to know why you need to press the clutch down before stopping. Without getting too technical as there's lots of other videos and information on the internet about that already, you simply need to press the clutch down before stopping or the car will stall. You'll normally feel the car start to shake before it stalls. If you feel it shaking then press the clutch down quickly and you should save it from stalling. But to prevent it from stalling in the first place you'd normally fully press the clutch down roughly two car lengths before you come to a complete stop. |
| Driving fast. For example, if you're driving above 25mph in 3rd gear and want to stop then the main priority because of the speed is to slow down. Release the gas pedal and press the brake. Second priority is not to stall. Press the clutch down roughly 2 car lengths before stopping completely. Driving slowly. If you're driving slowly below 10mph and want to stop then press the clutch before the brake so that the car doesn't stall. You're more likely to stall or have a shaky stop if you're driving slowly below 10mph and press the brake first then clutch. You can alsopress both the clutch and brake at the same time when you're driving slowly if needed. Uphill. If you're driving uphill and want to stop then come off gas and let gravity slow you down, the uphill is acting almost as a brake. Press the clutch about 2 car lengths before stopping and then brake. | Can't you just press the clutch before the brake every time? Well then you could be coasting which is making the car freewheel and it could increase speed which means that you'll have to brake more. You lose engine braking. | | Don't forget... Driving slowly, clutch then brake when stopping. Driving faster, brake then clutch down. Slowing down but not stopping? If you just want to slow down and not stop then release the gas pedal and brake if needed but you won't need to press the clutch unless you have to change gear. Clutch or brake first when stopping downhill?
Subscribe for more tips on our YouTube channel | You might also like these: | | | | | Clutch control in traffic uphill | FREE essential driving course | How to recover from stalling | 2024 manoeuvres |
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FAQs
If you are driving at a low speed, just press the brake pedal until the vehicle reaches 25 or 20kmph, and then apply the clutch to stop it.
Do you brake or clutch first for emergency stop? ›
If your car has an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), you will need to depress the clutch and brake pedals at the same time for an emergency stop. If your car doesn't have an ABS, you will need to brake and then depress the clutch at the very last moment before you stop—do it too early and you run the risk of coasting.
What happens if you press the brake without the clutch? ›
If the vehicle is running at 100 km/hour speed, brake application without pressing the clutch helps to stop in less distance, however, you need to press clutch before the engine stalls. If you are driving a car in city traffic at 20 km/hr pressing the brake without clutch makes the engine shut off.
Is it bad to keep the clutch down when stopped? ›
#1: Don't stay in gear at stop lights
Doing so is hard on the clutch's spring, bearing and diaphragm. Instead, put the stick shift in neutral and let the clutch out.
How to emergency stop a manual car? ›
You perform an emergency stop as follows:
- If you're driving a car with an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), you press the clutch and brake pedals at the same time. ...
- If you're driving an older car without ABS, you press the brake first and press down on the clutch at the last moment before stopping.
Just before the car comes to a halt, press the clutch pedal with your left foot. This will prevent the car from stalling. When the car stops moving, apply the handbrake, put the car in neutral, and take your foot off the brake pedal.
How do you slow down and stop a manual car? ›
Just step on the brake and the car will slow down. The transmission will catch up to the engine as the brakes force the slowdown of the car. When stop is quicker, the pressure is increased on the transmission to bring you down to first gear without skipping the sequence.
What happens if you press the clutch and brake at the same time? ›
When you apply the brakes in synchronization with the clutch, it will lead to the halting of your car immediately. This would be necessary when the need arises to stop the car instantly. For instance, if a human or a stray animal suddenly appears ahead of you; you would have to stop the car immediately.
When stopping a manual transmission vehicle, you should? ›
When you see it's time to slow down, depress the clutch pedal, move the gear shifter to neutral, and then move your right foot from the gas pedal to the brake pedal. Once you're in neutral gear, take your foot off the clutch and keep it off. Brake smoothly and slow to a stop.
Do you slow down with the clutch? ›
The proper way to slow down your manual transmission-equipped car is to downshift. When you take your right foot off the brake, you press the clutch with your left foot, shift down a gear. You will have to touch the accelerator pedal to do some rev matching before releasing the clutch.
In such cases, it's crucial to press the clutch first and then the brake. This technique will help you bring the bike to a halt smoothly without stalling the engine. If you suddenly apply the brake without engaging the clutch, the bike will stop abruptly and can cause it to become unstable, throwing you off.
What is the proper method of braking when going down? ›
The proper method of braking when going down long or steep grades, after selecting the proper gear, is to brake until your speed is about 5 MPH below your "safe" speed, then release your brakes. This technique is known as "snub braking" and helps prevent the brakes from overheating and losing effectiveness.
Should I depress the clutch when braking? ›
While braking, you should always depress the clutch.
This is one of the most common scenarios wherein people do apply the brakes but forget to disengage the clutch in-turn stalling the car. Well, stalling the car especially with transmission load will take a serious toll on your vehicle's gearbox assembly.
