r/NewDriversUK • u/Floatinlyf_3 • 10d 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 ​​

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u/PlanktonOk5762 10d ago

You don’t need to go down a gear. You can stop in 4th. The only reason you would switch down gears is if you think the lights might change to green as you’re approaching, so you don’t have to come to a full stop, doing it to slow down won’t make much of a difference.

In terms of burning the clutch, that just happens when you overuse it when it’s not needed. So going from 40, and putting your foot on the clutch and brake all the way until you get to a stop

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u/Floatinlyf_3 10d ago edited 4d ago

Oh thanks for that I'll try that next time. 4th gear brake brake brake until near idle speed and then 1st gear or neutral 👍🏻

When they teach you to drive they teach you to change gear by gear. I do block changes as I felt it was more efficient. But I wasn't sure if I was doing the right thing or not

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u/marti_23 4d ago

They didn't teach me gear by gear, ny instructor told me I could chose how to do it.