When driving a car...?

Question

...to stop at a junction or lights, while stopping I put my foot on the clutch (at around 10 mph) and start breaking until I stop, then put my hand break on.

My mum says that I shouldn't put the car into first while the car is still moving, even though my foot is on the clutch and this will do nothing to the gear box, as the cogs are not together.

Please can someone give some feedback on the correct motions to stop the car at a junction or lights. Maybe from a driving instructor or something like that, or someone who has just passed and remembers what to do.

Thanks, Olie

Answer 1

I generally don't use first gear except from going from a dead start. If I am still rolling slowly I will just downshift into second.

Answer 2

I would agree with the first answer but add one more thing, dont use the handbrake because you can forget it and cause an accident, seen it done many times, just use the gas and the brake to hold the car...

Answer 3

i just brake while the truck is still in gear and when i'm about to stop, i'll put clutch in and put it in neutral. if i have to make a faster, more urgent stop, i'll downshift into lower gears, but only down to a minimum of second gear. the reason for this is engine compression helps slows the vehicle down.

there's really nothing wrong with what you're doing, but you only need to shift to first if you're starting off. why the hand brake?

Answer 4

You do not should not put the hand brake on while driving.  You foot on the brake is doing the same thing.  The hand brake either uses the rear brakes, or applies tensions to the drive shaft.  You foot already puts the rear brakes on, and you dont want pressure applied to a turning drive shaft.

No, on to the second part.  Putting the car in first while moving with the clutch in will not damage the transmission.  The car drives isn first, why would putting it in first whilve moving do anything.