Clutching at lights

leex

My son is doing doing driving lessons and has been told there is no need to take a car out of gear at lights and it is ok to keep foot on clutch while waiting with car in gear. Many moons ago when I did my own lessons I was told to put handbrake on and take car out of gear when waiting for lights to change. This protected you from being pushed forward if rear ended and also protected clutch etc.

Any opinions on this?

gotz

If I'm first at the lights I would keep mine in gear, clutch in and handbrake up. You are to first in line so you need to be ready to move, rest of the cars can't move until you do.

If you know the timing of the lights or base it on how long you have been waiting you only then need to find the bite and put down the handbrake then off you go

If you are further back it doesn't matter as you will have more time to move

hoodie6029

If you are first in line I’d have it in gear ready to go but with the handbrake on. That way if you do get rear ended your car should cut out as your foot will come off the clutch with the handbrake still on.

it’s 20 years since I did my test but that’s what I remember being taught.

Hotblack Desiato

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058260351/clutching-at-lights

Into neutral and handbrake on every time on test. There are some amazing gobshites being paid for driving tuition who would struggle to pass a test themselves.

You can often see an opposing traffic light, when it goes amber gives plenty of time to get ready to go, or just watch the opposing traffic flow. In any case I doubt anyone would be marked down for waiting until the green light to get into gear, providing they got away promptly otherwise.

MV33

Car in first, clutch down, handbrake on foot off brake.

airy fairy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058260351/clutching-at-lights

Yes. This is the way my daughter was taught and passed, I learned completely different as you did. I questioned it, and it's accepted. Crossing your hands to maneuver the wheel was another thing that wasn't allowed but now is.

get_test_ready

Gotz is correct. You can be penalised in the test for being slow to take off from lights.

So if you are first or second in the queue, then clutch in, with first engaged and handbrake on. Then when the lights change do mirror check and off you go. When you are further back in the queue, you have time to do this while the cars in front are moving off.