Gear position when stopped at lights.

Seasoft · 19-07-2011 04:25PM #1

My daughter has started driving, is on her first provisional, and has taken many lessons (not from Daddy I might add).
I was in her car yesterday and noticed that she left the car in 1st gear when stopped at red lights. My wife corrected her on this, but was told that her instructor told her to always wait in 1st gear at lights etc.

Now, we all know it should be neutral at lights, 1st at a stop or yield sign, etc if appropriate. But can someone point to a official written instruction on this. We know we will be ignored unless we can show her in black and white the correct gear to be in at a red light.

TIA.

OldmanMondeo · 19-07-2011 04:28PM

I would always leave the car in first and be ready to go. The only time I would take car out of gear is if I knew the lights had a long cycle.

omb0wyn5ehpij9 · 19-07-2011 04:29PM

OldmanMondeo wrote: »

I would always leave the car in first and be ready to go. The only time I would take car out of gear is if I knew the lights had a long cycle.

+1

I would normally be in first at traffic lights unless the traffic is heavy and I know I won't be going anywhere for a while!

challengemaster · 19-07-2011 04:31PM

Yup, afraid to tell you but you're wrong on this one.

If you're in the first few cars in the queue, you should have it in 1st and ready to go unless you'll be stuck there for quite some time. Maybe mammy and daddy could do with a lesson from her

maximoose · 19-07-2011 04:31PM

I'd always have the car in neutral until I know the lights are going to be changing shortly (I drive a handful of routes and not much else so I know my junctions fairly well at this stage!)

When I was learning I was always taught to have the car in neutral when stopped, only put into first when taking off.

Henry Ford III · 19-07-2011 04:32PM

I suspect her instructor may moonlight fitting clutches

Radiotower · 19-07-2011 04:32PM

I used to wait in gear untill I heard a car expert on the radio say that it is very bad for the car to keep the clutch engaged for more than 5 secs so I always knock it out of gear and apply handbrake if facing uphill.

When you see the traffic stopping at the other junction then put in gear and get ready to go.

Anan1 · 19-07-2011 04:32PM

I'd wait in neutral until I could see that the lights were about to change in my favour. That said, my last manual car had a very heavy clutch.

kippy · 19-07-2011 04:33PM

I was taught that when the car is stopped for any period of time you put the car in neutral.

I don't think I ever read where that had to be done but it's how the instructor taught me and I had no issues with the test.

Now it depends whether I have it in neutral or not but more often than not I put it in neutral.

Sorry, cant help you with the "black and white part".

Matt Simis · 19-07-2011 04:34PM

Generally wait in 1st if in the first 3 cars of the lights. N if further back and I know Ill be sitting a while.

biko · 19-07-2011 04:35PM

If I'm in the first three cars I usually wait in 1st so I'm ready to shoot off.
If I'm lazy I'll put it in neutral and take foot off clutch.

Marty McFly · 19-07-2011 04:36PM

There is no written rule on it really, if she was to do her test tommorrow and stopped at lights leaving it in 1st gear or putting it into neutral both would be totally acceptable.

MrDerp · 19-07-2011 04:36PM

I began learning to drive 4 and a bit years ago and my instructor never made any statement on this. Though you could say, by omission, he implied that I should stay in first at the lights. I would cycle down through the gears and stop in 2nd, at which point he'd have me move straight into first.

I'm almost certain this is the behaviour I would have displayed during my test.

In practice, I go to neutral if I'm 2 cars or more back from the front of the queue, or if I'm tired of the clutch e.g. from driving in stop-start traffic.

Veloce · 19-07-2011 04:37PM

I mainly take it out of gear and put into neutral regardless of my position in the traffic que. Clutch wear and all that...

Mr. Presentable · 19-07-2011 04:38PM

If I know the sequence and the length of time to a change, or there are several cars ahead of me, I put it in N and handbrake on.

Naturally, if there is a chance I'll move soon I put it in 1st.

So, OP, damned if you do, damned if you don't, eh?

bijapos · 19-07-2011 04:39PM

Two reasons for ataying in neutral

1. Clutch wear is less

2. If you have it in gear and for some reason are hit from behind, the jolt could cause you to knock your foot off the accelerator and the car to shoot forward into the middle of the junction. Not likely in neutral. Long shot I know but it does happen.

Tea drinker · 19-07-2011 04:39PM

Henry Ford III wrote: »

I suspect her instructor may moonlight fitting clutches

And makes clutch release bearings in his spare time. No way, always leave the car in neutral, engine running, handbrake on. Give yourself a rest but maintain attention.

Sounds like we need an urgent lecture for the bluemotion owners to please disable the engine shutdown at lights. I Mean if they are first in the Q they should have clutch just biting and engine at not less than 6000 rpm am i rite? Who will take the action to contact the Dept of transport about this depoloarable state of affairs? :rolleyes:

Toots · 19-07-2011 04:40PM

Matt Simis wrote: »

Generally wait in 1st if in the first 3 cars of the lights. N if further back and I know Ill be sitting a while.

That's what my driving instructor told me, and that's what I did during the test and passed. If you're one of the first 3 cars it's leave it in first but have handbrake on, any further back and it's neutral with handbrake on.

This was asked on a driving school forum and the answer seems to back up what your daughter is saying.

If you're concerned that she's getting the wrong information, you could always contact her driving school and see what they say, or contact a few other ones and ask them.

VW 1 · 19-07-2011 04:40PM

Generally if I know the cycle of the lights I will leave it in neutral until 10 seconds or so before green. Otherwise I would leave it in first if I didnt know the cycle.

Beta Ray Bill · 19-07-2011 04:41PM

To be honest OP I'm not sure there is any official correct method for the above

I think it's relative to the Situation to be honest

IE if the lights have been red for a long time, leave in first as they will probably change.
Or if you are familiar with the sequence and timings of the lights then again, maybe leave in first.

There are all sorts of ridiculous teachings by instructor and/or by people who think they know best. On my Ignition course (Aviva 5/6 years ago) I was told that I should have the hand brake up when ever I've stopped at lights. Which doesn't make sense to me? (Not on a hill btw)

Another one was the handbrake must come up 4 clicks otherwise you might fail your test. WTF?

Stupid carry on.

I've never seen any documentation about the "Correct way to do every little thing in a car" in fact I've never even seen a "Best Practices" Documents. I don't think they exist

Although to be honest I would like to be proved wrong

RangeR · 19-07-2011 04:43PM

I leave it in neutral, for safety reasons. Foot could slip, cramp could kick in, worst case you could lose conciseness etc. Always be prepared. Any slip of the foot will jerk you forward and potentially into another car or pedestrian. The half a second it takes to move into first gear is well worth it.

Radiotower wrote: »

and apply handbrake if facing uphill.

I'd actually always apply handbrake when stopped for more than 5 seconds.

M.J.M.C · 19-07-2011 04:44PM

Matt Simis wrote: »

Generally wait in 1st if in the first 3 cars of the lights. N if further back and I know Ill be sitting a while.

This!

First 3 cars should be in 1st Gear ready to go,
from 4 on wards you can see the lights going green and can get ready to put it in 1st.
Stopped for more than 5 sec - pull up the handbrake.

kippy · 19-07-2011 04:45PM

grahambo wrote: »

To be honest OP I'm not sure there is any official correct method for the above

I think it's relative to the Situation to be honest

IE if the lights have been red for a long time, leave in first as they will probably change.
Or if you are familiar with the sequence and timings of the lights then again, maybe leave in first.

There are all sorts of ridiculous teachings by instructor and/or by people who think they know best. On my Ignition course (Aviva 5/6 years ago) I was told that I should have the hand brake up when ever I've stopped at lights. Which doesn't make sense to me? (Not on a hill btw)

Another one was the handbrake must come up 4 clicks otherwise you might fail your test. WTF?

Stupid carry on.

I've never seen any documentation about the "Correct way to do every little thing in a car" in fact I've never even seen a "Best Practices" Documents. I don't think they exist

Although to be honest I would like to be proved wrong

I dont think there is an official way alright.
There are some two reasons I had heard for leaving it in Neutral with handbrake on (not sure how relevant they are now or how accurate they are)
1. Clutch wear (and generaly issues with the clutch)
2. If you get hit from behind and don't have the handbrake on but the car in first with clutch in you could end up getting pushed, lifting foot off clutch and straight out into the traffic (that said there are situations were this wouldnt happen and you could be in a better position)

A couple of posters seem to have been overly harsh on the OP on this one.......

Beta Ray Bill · 19-07-2011 04:49PM

bijapos wrote: »

Two reasons for ataying in neutral

1. Clutch wear is less

If you foot is on the clutch, how can it wear away? (There's no contact right)

bijapos wrote: »

2. If you have it in gear and for some reason are hit from behind, the jolt could cause you to knock your foot off the accelerator and the car to shoot forward into the middle of the junction. Not likely in neutral. Long shot I know but it does happen.

I get what you are saying, but if your left foot is on the clutch and the car is in first then you would (should) have your right foot on the brake.

If you were hit from behind and both release the clutch and the brake at the same time it's more like the car would stall and not roll because it's still in first ya know?

G.

pajo1981 · 19-07-2011 04:50PM

Instructor told me to keep it in first when at the head of a queue. I don't remember seeing this written down all the same.

As for wear on the clutch - that's bollocks

RobAMerc · 19-07-2011 04:52PM

I think you should be in first with the clutch just biting and your right foot in the toe and heel position ready to floor it when the lights go.
otherwise we will have the uniquely Irish case of a 20 min interlude between green and actually moving off. - this phenomenon also leads those travelling from the other direction to believe they have 20 mins after they have red to actually stop. :mad::mad:

pajo1981 · 19-07-2011 04:54PM

RobAMerc wrote: »

I think you should be in first with the clutch just biting and your right foot in the toe and heel position ready to floor it when the lights go.

Now that'll wear your clutch.

Beta Ray Bill · 19-07-2011 04:55PM

RobAMerc wrote: »

this phenomenon also leads those travelling from the other direction to believe they have 20 mins after they have red to actually stop. :mad::mad:

5 second rule..... :P

Tea drinker · 19-07-2011 04:55PM

grahambo wrote: »

If you foot is on the clutch, how can it wear away? (There's no contact right)

G.

Grahambo, even if you are not dragging the clutch there is a release bearing which eventually wear out. Leaving it clutched for ages could potentially seriously aggravate this due to heat buildup in the bearing , apart from this you will have accelerated normal wear.

E39MSport · 19-07-2011 05:03PM

There's no way on Earth I'd sit at the lights with my left foot to the floor and the car in gear. That's silly in my book.

Wear on the clutch release is on thing as mentioned and the possiblity of the clutch letting go for some reason is another. I've had a clutch cable go on me in an older car and it scared the bejeesus out of me.

Anyway, if you're on the ball you'll have it in first and ready to rock seconds before the light goes green

RangeR · 19-07-2011 05:05PM

grahambo wrote: »

I get what you are saying, but if your left foot is on the clutch and the car is in first then you would (should) have your right foot on the brake.

For your ENTIRE stopped time? Do you not realise it's exceptionally irritating to the car behind to see all that red light. Under certain conditions, it's blindingly bright.

Gear position when stopped at lights.

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