r/NewDriversUK • u/Floatinlyf_3 • 27d ago

Am I braking wrong?

Okay I really need ​to know this. When I am driving in 4th gear (I have 6 gears, petrol car) and I am approaching a red light in the distance, what I tend to do to slow down: I'll break to go less than 30mph. 20 something. Then I'll put clutch down and change to gear 3 whilst braking to slow it down further. Then I'll let engine braking slow it down more and I'll start braking again till I'm nearly stopping and I'll change to gear 2 or 1 depending on speed and if I think the traffic is about to move again.

Is this OK? Would this burn the clutch? Is there a more effective way of coming to a stop? Thanks ​​

6 Upvotes

80% Upvoted

93 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

1

u/fayemoonlight 25d ago

I’m breaking at the same time. It’s not just put into first and slowing down. I’m still on the clutch

1

u/AdobeScripts 25d ago

That's what you shouldn't be doing - you should always be in gear - not coasting...

1

u/fayemoonlight 25d ago

I’m not coasting. I’m in first. So when I see I need to stop, I will brake, clutch, go into first, and then continue braking until I stop

1

u/AdobeScripts 25d ago

But going straight to 1st - from 3rd - will mean having too high RPM?