Driving downhill in traffic

Driver1000

Hi, I have been driving for a few months now and was wondering what the correct way to use the clutch and gears going downhill in gridlocked traffic is?
This traffic is really busy and it might move a car length every 30 seconds. I find when I'm driving that I disengage the handbrake (hill is very steep) and immediately cover the footbrake to slow me down. However the issue is with the gears and clutch. I put it into 1st and keep the clutch pretty much fully depressed while footbraking as I don't have time to raise it. Is this correct?

MilanPan!c

Driver1000 wrote: »

Hi, I have been driving for a few months now and was wondering what the correct way to use the clutch and gears going downhill in gridlocked traffic is?
This traffic is really busy and it might move a car length every 30 seconds. I find when I'm driving that I disengage the handbrake (hill is very steep) and immediately cover the footbrake to slow me down. However the issue is with the gears and clutch. I put it into 1st and keep the clutch pretty much fully depressed while footbraking as I don't have time to raise it. Is this correct?

If the clutch isn't engaged it doesn't matter what gear you have it in... put it in reverse if you like

Driver1000

I don't quite understand what you mean, sorry. To clarify, having the clutch fully down on the floor (while the gearbox is in 1st) while rolling down the hill braking, is correct?

MilanPan!c

Driver1000 wrote: »

I don't quite understand what you mean, sorry. To clarify, having the clutch fully down on the floor (while the gearbox is in 1st) while rolling down the hill braking, is correct?

when the clutch is fully down, it doesn't matter what gear the car is in...

if it's already rolling and you try and put it into first you may be going too fast for the car to be "happy" ... in which case you'd either have to slow down (in neutral) and go into first, or - what most folks would do - simply start in second gear, as long as you're rolling...

A hill is like coasting to a stop at a traffic light... if the traffic in front of you starts to move, you don't stop the car completely, then start again from first, you put the car in the appropriate gear and continue on with traffic.

EDIT: Depending on the hill/situation, some people would have the car in second and be braking at the same time... to avoid having to start from second or slow down in order to start in first....

It's really a case-by-case thing... do what's safe, what allows you to drive smoothly and what feels natural...

Driver1000

Okay thanks for getting back to me. I'm still not sure that's answering my question or the question i'm asking makes sense! Sorry! If you were driving down a steep hill in bumper to bumper traffic, how would you do it? Do you leave it in neutral, disengage the handbrake and roll down the hill or engage the clutch and roll down? As I type this leaving it in neutral sounds like the best answer but i'm just not sure...

MilanPan!c

Driver1000 wrote: »

Okay thanks for getting back to me. I'm still not sure that's answering my question or the question i'm asking makes sense! Sorry! If you were driving down a steep hill in bumper to bumper traffic, how would you do it? Do you leave it in neutral, disengage the handbrake and roll down the hill or engage the clutch and roll down? As I type this leaving it in neutral sounds like the best answer but i'm just not sure...

Stopped: hand-brake on, car in neutral
Going forward: hand-brake off, car in neutral, braking with brake pedal

That's the most commonly done thing.

IF you start rolling too fast to easily start in first, and need to start properly driving forward, start in second.

EDIT: if you're already driving, then even on a hill and in heavy traffic neutral may be too slow to be safe, in which case, drive normally.

Driver1000

Thanks a million for the help. Sorry for being somewhat dense!

RustyNut

Driver1000 wrote: »

Hi, I have been driving for a few months now and was wondering what the correct way to use the clutch and gears going downhill in gridlocked traffic is?
This traffic is really busy and it might move a car length every 30 seconds. I find when I'm driving that I disengage the handbrake (hill is very steep) and immediately cover the footbrake to slow me down. However the issue is with the gears and clutch. I put it into 1st and keep the clutch pretty much fully depressed while footbraking as I don't have time to raise it. Is this correct?

Perfect.

MilanPan!c

Driver1000 wrote: »

Thanks a million for the help. Sorry for being somewhat dense!

Don't worry... the trick with driving is repetition... Theory works until it doesn't and then your experience will tell you what is the best course of action;)

xabi

MilanPan!c wrote: »

Stopped: hand-brake on, car in neutral
Going forward: hand-brake off, car in neutral, braking with brake pedal

That's the most commonly done thing.

IF you start rolling too fast to easily start in first, and need to start properly driving forward, start in second.

EDIT: if you're already driving, then even on a hill and in heavy traffic neutral may be too slow to be safe, in which case, drive normally.

Id have it in first.

MilanPan!c

xabi wrote: »

Id have it in first.

sure... but that's only good for about 3 seconds on a steep hill... Neutral is good because that way you can go to first if you need to, or second if you need to... Though you can easily change from first to second while in neutral so... you know... It's just about preference, not about being correct...

Saying that, most of the people I drive with tend to have it in neutral when coasting, as far as I can tell.

RustyNut

MilanPan!c wrote: »

sure... but that's only good for about 3 seconds on a steep hill... Neutral is good because that way you can go to first if you need to, or second if you need to... Though you can easily change from first to second while in neutral so... you know... It's just about preference, not about being correct...

Saying that, most of the people I drive with tend to have it in neutral when coasting, as far as I can tell.

If your car is moving it should not be in nutral.

xabi

MilanPan!c wrote: »

sure... but that's only good for about 3 seconds on a steep hill... Neutral is good because that way you can go to first if you need to, or second if you need to... Though you can easily change from first to second while in neutral so... you know... It's just about preference, not about being correct...

Saying that, most of the people I drive with tend to have it in neutral when coasting, as far as I can tell.

When i was learning it was a fail if you moved with the car in neutral.

Days 298

Every day driving put it in neutral. Give your left leg a rest! You won't meet heavy traffic on your test most likely.

Mycroft H

First/second with the clutch in. Roll with the foot break, if you stop for long enough than neutral/handbrake

Driver1000

Okay so two very different responses... What is the real world difference between the two? Is driving in neutral inherently bad for the car? Will engaging the clutch the whole way down increase wear on it?

Mycroft H

Driver1000 wrote: »

Okay so two very different responses... What is the real world difference between the two? Is driving in neutral inherently bad for the car? Will engaging the clutch the whole way down increase wear on it?

None really. Just the way I was thought really

Theta

MilanPan!c wrote: »

sure... but that's only good for about 3 seconds on a steep hill... Neutral is good because that way you can go to first if you need to, or second if you need to... Though you can easily change from first to second while in neutral so... you know... It's just about preference, not about being correct...

Saying that, most of the people I drive with tend to have it in neutral when coasting, as far as I can tell.

Is coasting not a mark in your test. I was always told it was......

I mean I coast but I wouldn't do it in a test and im guessing the poster wants to get out of bad habits before one no?

Edit, it doesn't damage the car in the slightest it is just viewed that you have less control over the car when it is coasting.

RustyNut

Driver1000 wrote: »

Okay so two very different responses... What is the real world difference between the two? Is driving in neutral inherently bad for the car? Will engaging the clutch the whole way down increase wear on it?

Driving in neutral is not bad for the car but it takes away one option for controlling the car, in the example you gave above the correct and best thing to do is have the car in gear before you release the brakes.

Dont worry about wear on the clutch, if its used correctly and not ridden or continually slipped it will last as long as its designed to last.

Driver1000

Theta wrote: »

Edit, it doesn't damage the car in the slightest it is just viewed that you have less control over the car when it is coasting.

I thought both driving with the clutch depressed for longer than necessary and driving in neutral were both forms of coasting?

RustyNut

Driver1000 wrote: »

I thought both driving with the clutch depressed for longer than necessary and driving in neutral were both forms of coasting?

Perfect again. Your not too bad at this.

dastardly00

OP,
I think if you are only moving a car length at a time, then it wouldn't be considered coasting (when you have it in 1st gear, clutch full pressed down, and controlling speed with the foot brake.

If you were moving continuously for a longer period of time, then you would be able to engage the most suitable gear and release the clutch, and you so you wouldn't be coasting either.

MilanPan!c

RustyNut wrote: »

If your car is moving it should not be in nutral.

Well that's obviously not true.

m.wikihow.com/Drive-a-Stick

There's dozens of examples of people teaching people to stop in neutral - and it's certainly cheaper to replace brake pads than transmissions.

MilanPan!c

Theta wrote: »

Is coasting not a mark in your test. I was always told it was......

I mean I coast but I wouldn't do it in a test and im guessing the poster wants to get out of bad habits before one no?

Edit, it doesn't damage the car in the slightest it is just viewed that you have less control over the car when it is coasting.

Coasting is not a "bad habit".

This must be another one of those weird things that Irish people are taught.

Edit: a quick google shows a few things:

- people all agree (as do I) that downshifting is a good idea on long inclines - like driving in the mountains
- almost everyone agrees that downshifting in city traffic is idiotic and places undue wear on your clutch
- the people that think its illegal or bad to coast are almost all from the UK/Ireland

I have been a licensend driver in three countries, have driven from over 30 years, have never had an accident that was my fault, have no points on my license, and have driven myself to 49/50 US states. I've driven a lot. Never once have I put myself in any danger by coasting. It's absurd to consider coasting "bad". Endlessly driving around in first gear to avoid coasting on the other hand - very bad for your transmission.

RustyNut

MilanPan!c wrote: »

There's dozens of examples of people teaching people to stop in neutral - and it's certainly cheaper to replace brake pads than transmissions.

I'm sure there are, it doesn't make it right tho.
See how it works out for you in your driving test.

MilanPan!c

RustyNut wrote: »

I'm sure there are, it doesn't make it right tho.
See how it works out for you in your driving test.

I passed my driving test in the first go and coasted as much as I usually do.

Maybe the fact that I've driven safely for 30+ years in multiple countries put the guys mind at rest.

Driver1000

dastardly00 wrote: »

OP,
I think if you are only moving a car length at a time, then it wouldn't be considered coasting (when you have it in 1st gear, clutch full pressed down, and controlling speed with the foot brake.

If you were moving continuously for a longer period of time, then you would be able to engage the most suitable gear and release the clutch, and you so you wouldn't be coasting either.

It looks like the debate will rage for a bit long as it seems contentious but this really summed it up for me. Thanks!

RustyNut

MilanPan!c wrote: »

I passed my driving test in the first go and coasted as much as I usually do.

Maybe the fact that I've driven safely for 30+ years in multiple countries put the guys mind at rest.

Why did you have to do a test after 30 years safe driving?

MilanPan!c

RustyNut wrote: »

Why did you have to do a test after 30 years safe driving?

Because my US license expired.

I can show you all my paperwork and we can sort out a timeline of my movements if you'd like.

ardmacha

Coasting is bad driving, as it reduces your control of the car, which is not to say that people don't do it.

I have been a licensend driver in three countries, have driven from over 30 years, have never had an accident that was my fault, have no points on my license, and have driven myself to 49/50 US states.

This is the statistical outcome from a variety of situations, not proof that your driving technique is optimal. I have driven from over 30 years, have never had an accident that was my fault, have no points on my license, and have driven myself to all 32 Irish counties.

I think the OP should try and drive correctly while learning, even if many people coast in practice some of the time. Driving in neutral is not best practice.

MilanPan!c

ardmacha wrote: »

Coasting is bad driving, as it reduces your control of the car, which is not to say that people don't do it.



This is the statistical outcome from a variety of situations, not proof that your driving technique is optimal. I have driven from over 30 years, have never had an accident that was my fault, have no points on my license, and have driven myself to all 32 Irish counties.

I think the OP should try and drive correctly while learning, even if many people coast in practice some of the time. Driving in neutral is not best practice.

Coasting does not in any way reduce the control you have on the car. That's complete nonsense.

ardmacha

Coasting does not in any way reduce the control you have on the car. That's complete nonsense.

It does in two ways.
- you do not have the possibility of engine braking in the event of a brake problem
- if you need to move off quickly, you are not in gear

MilanPan!c

ardmacha wrote: »

It does in two ways.
- you do not have the possibility of engine braking in the event of a brake problem
- if you need to move off quickly, you are not in gear

1. Lol. You can always put the car in gear.
2. See 1.

It's a nonsense argument. Having a car in neutral doesn't prevent you from putting it in gear. There's no desperate emergency situation where the half a second it takes to put a car in gear is worth the extra wear and tear you put in your clutch and transmission.

RustyNut

MilanPan!c wrote: »

1. Lol. You can always put the car in gear.
2. See 1.

It's a nonsense argument. Having a car in neutral doesn't prevent you from putting it in gear.I have not yet been in an emergency situation where the half a second it takes to put a car in gear is worth the extra wear and tear you put in your clutch and transmission.

FYP


You are aware that this is a learn to drive forum where people ask questions to help them pass a test and hopefully make them better drivers.
I have been a truck driver for almost 30 years, have driven from here to Poland and from the north of Scandinavia to the south of Italy, I have lost count of the number of driving courses I have taken in the mean time defensive driving, advanced driving, off road driving high speed driving etc etc and I never once heard a reason to be coasting. It only reduces your ability to control the vehicle by using the engine, and maintaining proper control at all times should be a higher priority than trying to avoid reasonable wear and tear on your car.