In or out of gear

Grimpeur

Quick question...

When sitting your driving test, is it acceptable to turn on ignition when the car is in first gear or should it be in neutral?

When I did my driving test (many years ago) it was a definite no no to start up in gear, but I've been told by someone who is about to do their test shortly that they always start up while in gear.

chin_grin

I've gotten in to the habit of going straight to neutral when turning off the ignition. And starting up the same.

I'm not sure if you'd be marked against it though, although there's the safety aspect of what if your vehicle jerks forward as a result. Could be penalised for that!

Faith+1

I'd stay in neutral, did my test 2 years ago and was told this.

Grimpeur

Cheers for the quick replies chin_grin and Faith+1...seems that it may be safer to advise my mate to keep it in neutral.
The danger of jumping forward, as you point out chin_grin would be my guess.

Alkers

Keep it in neutral but start from first if you stall.

Creamy Goodness

it doesn't matter as long as you do not stall the car and are in full and complete control of the car.

starlit

Start in neutral but then get into first gear as quickly as possible without stalling. Once you finish your test its good to go into neutral to stop and pull up the car and pull the handbreak but turn off your ignition and have gear in first gear or neutral can't remember which it is think its first gear so that the car won't roll back or jerk...or is that neutral..someone help me out!??

challengemaster

As said above, as long as you don't forget its in gear and jump / stall, you'll be fine either way.

Personally I'll nearly always do a quick check to see if it's in neutral or not, and more often than not, stick it into neutral. Been caught out once too many times by my dad insisting to move my car, then leaving it in gear...

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

fergpie

Simona1986 wrote: »

Keep it in neutral but start from first if you stall.

This is wrong...

If you stall you have to take the car out of gear and apply the hand break. Then restart the car again in neutral and select 1st and release hand break

Alanstrainor

fergpie wrote: »

This is wrong...

If you stall you have to take the car out of gear and apply the hand break. Then restart the car again in neutral and select 1st and release hand break

As Permabear said, it makes no difference whether you put the car in neutral or just depress the clutch while the car is in gear. Should you cut out unexpectedly, it would be in your best interest to start off again as quickly as possible. I see no reason to take the car out of gear just to put it back into gear again. Simply depress the clutch and start the car in first.

shineon23

Was taught by instructor to put car into neutral if your stopped for more than 10 seconds, before you start off, after you stop, and in traffic also, although i can't see you been marked down for that one.

challengemaster

fergpie wrote: »

This is wrong...

If you stall you have to take the car out of gear and apply the hand break. Then restart the car again in neutral and select 1st and release hand break

No you don't. Considering this is a forum people read to learn, it's probably a good idea not to feed them false information.

Easiest thing to do if you stall is - stop, apply the handbrake, pop it into first, depress the clutch, restart the car, drive on.

Being able to recover quickly from a stall is key in the test, as if you can recover from it, you won't be marked down on it.

**Timbuk2**

Sorry to sound silly, but surely starting with the gearstick in neutral is the only thing that makes sense? If the clutch wasn't working properly, or the clutch cable snapped, (or something!) then the car would jolt upon startup, possibly into a car or a person, potentially causing damage.

Just to be on the safe side, I'd always start in neutral. Sure, it's an unlikely occurrence that a car would jolt upon startup, but it adds about 1 second on, if even.

Alanstrainor

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

Sorry to sound silly, but surely starting with the gearstick in neutral is the only thing that makes sense? If the clutch wasn't working properly, or the clutch cable snapped, (or something!) then the car would jolt upon startup, possibly into a car or a person, potentially causing damage.

Just to be on the safe side, I'd always start in neutral. Sure, it's an unlikely occurrence that a car would jolt upon startup, but it adds about 1 second on, if even.

Personally I think that train of thought is flawed. It's taking an over cautious approach to what's a really simple issue imo. The clutch cable could be just as much of a problem if you put the car into neutral. Seeing that you'll be using the clutch to re-engage 1st, you could just as easily say "But the clutch cable could snap causing the car to jump forward".

IMO, it's similar to drivers who think that driving 40km/h in a 50km/h zone is better. Of course it's "safer"; but it's not practical.

ADIDriving

A point to consider; If you cut out during your driving test or at any other time, it is often best to start the engine, clutch down in gear. If you take the car out of gear, to start the engine and then put it back into the same gear, this is adding the problem of lack of progress. Just making the problem worse.

Gusc

The 'cockpit drill' as approved by the RSA is a proceedure to follow when you first get into the car, as part of the drill you make sure that the gear is in neutral. So I believe it is best practice to start the car in neutral

Alanstrainor

Gusc wrote: »

The 'cockpit drill' as approved by the RSA is a proceedure to follow when you first get into the car, as part of the drill you make sure that the gear is in neutral. So I believe it is best practice to start the car in neutral

This is a different situation. This is a case where someone has cut out unexpectedly, potentially in the middle of a junction or somewhere inconvenient. Getting started, as quickly as possible is a priority in such situations.

Grimpeur

Many thanks for all the help on this.

My mate sat the test yesterday and passed - first time too.

He told me he started off in neutral and that if he had been unlucky enough to cut out during the test, would have re-started while in first gear.