Going round corners

dangeloYo

I have a habit of having my foot on the clutch while lightly braking when going around a corner. My driving instructor says I should not be doing this and should be in gear. When I attempt this, I feel as if I am going around the corner too fast, then I revert back to my usual way.

How can I get out of this habit?

wonski

You should slow down, and choose gear before you get to the corner.
Both braking while in turn, and going through the corner out of gear are not safe way to do this. You have actually no control on the car at that time - not very good on wet weather, not to mention winter driving...
Just do it, you get to the good habit eventually.
It is really unsafe, maybe thinking about consequences of going out of the corner will help you?
As for the foot on the clutch, just practise taking it away from the clutch pedal right after changing gear, you shouldnt even hover it over that pedal, your clutch will last longer, and no marks on the test if you clearly move your foot away.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

Jenna69

dangeloYo wrote: »

I have a habit of having my foot on the clutch while lightly braking when going around a corner. My driving instructor says I should not be doing this and should be in gear. When I attempt this, I feel as if I am going around the corner too fast, then I revert back to my usual way.

How can I get out of this habit?

I'm only driving just over a month and i do this as well, is it a Learner thing? I feel i have more control if i have my foot on the brake and clutch going round a corner. I'm told my clutch won't last long if i keep doing it.

Mr. Presentable

Have all your work done before entering the corner.

I remember having the same problems as the OP. The best thing is to be finished braking before turning, and have the gear changed before you finish braking. You should be driving through a corner.

Max Power1

Jenna69 wrote: »

I'm only driving just over a month and i do this as well, is it a Learner thing? I feel i have more control if i have my foot on the brake and clutch going round a corner. I'm told my clutch won't last long if i keep doing it.

Youll burn out the clutch in no time.

It must be a learning thing, that was one of the bad habits I had developed before I got lessons.

Its going to get grade 2 every corner you go around when the tester sees you on the clutch.

**Timbuk2**

If you have your foot fully on the clutch going around corners, you won't burn out the clutch as some people have said, but it is most definitely wrong - it's a very common habit however.

You should get into gear early. As you approach a corner, signal, get into position, slow down to the speed necessary, then choose the gear necessary (often 2nd gear) and then lightly accelerate around the corner (just to pull the car around the corner - you don't want the car's momentum to be the driving force).

Most learners (including myself when I was starting out) don't realise how slow they can go in 2nd gear without cutting out. Go onto an empty road or car park, build up speed into 2nd gear, and then let your foot off the accelerator and let the car slow down gradually, and see how slow the car can go before it starts to labour / shudder / become jerky. You will probably be surprised how slow you can go in 2nd gear before you put your foot on the clutch.

MascotDec85

When I attempt this, I feel as if I am going around the corner too fast

If you have your clutch pressed fully down your car will go most likely round the corner faster as you are effectively in neutral and are free-wheeling.

Remember you should be dong the following BEFORE turning the corner:

Mirror
Signal
Position
Speed
Look


Speed relates to slowing your car down to an appropriate speed and changing gear if necessary before you turn the corner