[Music] A common question new drivers ask who are learning to drive a manual car
is when do I need to press the clutch?
To keep it simple, I'm not going to get all technical as there's lots of other videos on this,
but you need to fully press the clutch down whenever you want to stop the car completely
and when changing gear.
To drive slowly below 5 miles per hour you'll also need to use clutch control
which I'll demonstrate later.
Let me show you when to press the clutch. When stopping,
you should press the clutch down about two car lengths before stopping the car.
If you don't, then the car will stall.
If you're driving slowly, roughly below 10 miles per hour,
then press the clutch first so that the car doesn't stall and then brake to stop.
Driving faster than roughly 10 miles per hour, brake to slow down and then
press the clutch about two car lengths before stopping to prevent stalling.
Some new drivers think they should press the clutch every time they brake,
but if you're slowing down for a bend for example then there isn't any need.
If you press the clutch unnecessarily or too early then you'll make the car coast or freewheel.
This reduces the amount of control you have of the car and you could increase speed.
If you're driving between nought to five miles per hour,
then you can use the clutch to control the car at very slow speeds.
This is where you can raise the clutch to the biting point to make the car move forward slowly
or slightly lower the clutch about the thickness of a pound coin to slow down.
You can use clutch control anytime you want to drive very slowly and when you want to drive
faster than roughly five miles per hour, smoothly raise the clutch all the way with a little gas.
Have a look at our other video on clutch control for more information on this.
I'm turning left and I won't need to press the clutch as I'm not stopping or changing gear.
To stop on the left I'll brake to slow down,
then clutch down about two car lengths before stopping so that the car doesn't stall.
The other time to fully press the clutch is whenever you want to change gear.
Off gas, clutch down, change gear, release the clutch pedal smoothly and back on the gas. If
you're unsure when to change gear, then have a look at our other video as it might help.
I'm turning right and I need to stop for oncoming.
Brake and clutch down as I'm stopping and changing gear.
It's hard to see to the right of this roundabout, so I need to brake
and press the clutch as I'm stopping and need to change gear.
Safe to go. Gas, biting point, smoothly raise the clutch with more gas.
This time I'm braking to slow down but I'm not going to drive below 5 miles per hour
or change gear so I shouldn't press the clutch.
[Music] For more driving tips have a look at our learning to drive modules on our website.
There's videos on clutch control and how to change gear. Best of all, it's completely free.
Thanks a lot for watching. Please give it a thumbs up if it did help and subscribing really
helps us make more videos like this one. In the meantime keep safe on the road and bye for now.
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