Sitting in first?

jmcwobbles

Hi there - I have my full license for 8 years now and have been taking a friend of mine who is currently learning to drive out for a few spins to get her some practice.

One thing I have issue with is that when she's sitting at a red light, she sits with her foot down on the clutch and in first gear - I was always under the impression that this is really bad for your car, but she says her instructor has told her it's fine if she's first in the Q at the red light - has anyone else been told this? Would this not burn out your clutch?? From a test point of view, is there any issue with sitting with the car in first?

biko

It's fine for the clutch. And being first in the queue I would think it's fine to sit in 1st gear too so you can speed off easier. Mind I hate all that hand brake malarky.

DriveSkill

As long as the clutch is fully depressed it is fine and will do no damage it. It is generally advised that if first or second in the queue at the lights that you remain in 1st gear so you can move off quickly as soon as the lights change. However its not mandatory - if for example you have a good view of the other set of lights you could wait until they go AMBER and then move into 1st gear in anticipation of you getting a GREEN light.

What is bad for the clutch is if you hold it at the biting point or 'slip the clutch' while waiting for the lights - you will quickly burn out your clutch this way so remember keep it fully depressed and handbrake up while waiting!

Posy

Do you have to have the clutch AND the brake pressed in this situation??

PCPhoto

Posy wrote: »

Do you have to have the clutch AND the brake pressed in this situation??

clutch down and handbrake up ...not footbrake

Alanstrainor

Posy wrote: »

Do you have to have the clutch AND the brake pressed in this situation??

I suppose you could, but i would always prefer to use the handbrake when i can, i would tend to work on a rule of thumb, that if i'm stationary for more the 5 seconds i would apply the handbrake. And with more experience and confidence, i would put the handbrake on and stick it into neutral in most cases where i would be stopped for more than say 5 seconds.

jmcwobbles

Thanks for all the responses, guess you learn something new every day! I always thought sitting with the clutch down was really bad, but I guess not! She does put the handbrake up at the same time, not the foot brake, so obviously her instructor was right that it's okay.

komodosp

How would the tester feel about it though?

**Timbuk2**

komodosp wrote: »

How would the tester feel about it though?

Testwise, it should be fine to keep the clutch in.

In junctions where you can see the lights for the other traffic (the traffic that you are waiting on), I'd often leave the car in neutral with my foot off the clutch until those lights go amber, and then I'd depress the clutch and select first gear, and be ready to go.

jimmyw

While doing my truck lessons was told by 2 instructors that you can/should apply the handbrake if stopped for more than a few seconds,and should keep it in first. Dont know if the same applies to a car, I always put in neutral. It is very tiresome tho to keep your foot on the clutch of a truck, I would put that in neutral as well.

tomcollins97

Alanstrainor wrote: »

I suppose you could, but i would always prefer to use the handbrake when i can, i would tend to work on a rule of thumb, that if i'm stationary for more the 5 seconds i would apply the handbrake. And with more experience and confidence, i would put the handbrake on and stick it into neutral in most cases where i would be stopped for more than say 5 seconds.

Why do you use the hand break rather than the foot break when sitting in traffic?

John Mason

i was told the same thing by my instructor. if you are first in the q at a red light , hand brake on, car in first gear and foot on the clutch

Wishbone Ash

jimmyw wrote: »

It is very tiresome tho to keep your foot on the clutch of a truck

Yes, I agree. It's also excessively heavy on some tractors.

tomcollins97 wrote: »

Why do you use the hand break rather than the foot break when sitting in traffic?

2 main reasons:

1. It safer. It you are rearended, you foot will come off the foot brake and therefore may allow your vehicle to be driven into the path of an oncoming vehicle.

2. During lighting up hours, it shows courtesy to the driver behind.

tomcollins97

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

2. During lighting up hours, it shows courtesy to the driver behind.

How does that work??

Alanstrainor

tomcollins97 wrote: »

How does that work??

Sitting on the breaks means that you're break lights are shining into the car behind, which can be annoying if you're sitting in traffic for quite a while.

tomcollins97

The break light is also on with the handbreak?

Surely is is good for anyone approaching from behind to know that your breaks are engaged?

**Timbuk2**

tomcollins97 wrote: »

The break light is also on with the handbreak?

Surely is is good for anyone approaching from behind to know that your breaks are engaged?

As far as I know, the brakelights do not show when the handbrake is on. I'm 90% sure of thise. The reason for this is that you never use the handbrake to slow down or stop, so there is no need for brakelights to show.

DriveSkill

tomcollins97 wrote: »

The break light is also on with the handbreak?

Surely is is good for anyone approaching from behind to know that your breaks are engaged?

The handbrake is not connected in anyway to your brake lights.

The purpose of brake lights are to signal that you are slowing down (or stopping) which you will do with the foot brake.

You should never use the handbrake while the car is moving, its primary purpose is to secure the car and hold it in position NOT to stop it. Remember the handbrake only applies to the rear wheels, hence there is a significant danger that if you apply it while moving the rear wheels may lock up and you will end up in a skid.

jackofalltrades

jmcwobbles wrote:

One thing I have issue with is that when she's sitting at a red light, she sits with her foot down on the clutch and in first gear - I was always under the impression that this is really bad for your car, but she says her instructor has told her it's fine if she's first in the Q at the red light - has anyone else been told this? Would this not burn out your clutch?? From a test point of view, is there any issue with sitting with the car in first?

Sitting with the clutch pedal depressed places stress on the release bearing, which could lead to premature wear/failure. From the point of view of reducing wear and tear it would be best to leave the car in neutral with your foot off the clutch pedal when stopped.

Richie15

This is how I learned it, second-hand through my sister from her instructor first, later confirmed by my own instructor.

If you're first, second or third at the lights you leave it in first and handbrake applied, ready to move off once the light changes but at the same time held stationary by the handbrake. Also, if you're last in the line you keep the footbrake applied so that cars coming behind you can see that you're stopped, but once somebody stops behind you, you take the foot off the pedal so you're not dazzling him.

Irishpimpdude

Jesus christ im 19 only driving one year and most of you guys have no idea how to drive???!!!! 8 years with a full licence and you think sitting stationary at traffic lights in first with the clutch down is bad for the car? or even the test...

Richie15

Irishpimpdude wrote: »

Jesus christ im 19 only driving one year and most of you guys have no idea how to drive???!!!!

And we get the bad reputation and the high insurance...

Irishpimpdude

Richie15 wrote: »

And we get the bad reputation and the high insurance...

Well i must say since my insurance has changed from 2200 to 1300 with 1 year no claims and a full licence its a big difference but still most of the people in this thread are paying 300-500 euro and don't even know how to drive