Clutch Control and Hill Starts

Having driven an automatic for many years, the return of my arch nemesis - the gear stick - and his evil twin - the clutch - was an interesting scenario. Although learning to drive in a manual adds more parameters to the equation and when you look at that equation it might put you off, there are definitely benefits. Despite the rise of the automatic over the last twenty years there are still a lot of manual cars, especially at the learn driver entry level. You will therefore have the pick of your cars and colours if you learn in a manual. Here in the UK if you learn to drive in an automatic you are restricted to automatic cars, this can be quite limiting. Once you are able to rent a car, it is significantly more expensive to rent an automatic and overall more vehicles seem to be manual (at the moment).

In our first lesson we covered the 'biting point' and using the clutch to get the car moving. Hill starts brings this to the next level, throw in a junction as well and it gives us a great opportunity to cover a few areas of driving.

The Ideal Place to Learn Hill Starts

It is likely that you may stall whilst practicing, finding a quiet road is preferable to remove any pressure you may feel from people sat behind you. The example above was a very quiet road, with a junction on a hill, which led into a slightly busier road also on a hill, which also happened to have a loop back to the junction. Perfect.

This is a combination of clutch and handbrake (unless you have an automatic handbrake). There are some steps below, but ultimately practice, practice, practice until you can balance the clutch and time the handbrake.

Step 1 - Stop at the Junction

• Indicator is on.

• You have stopped at the white line.

• You are positioned to the left of the junction.

Step 2 - Prepare

There are a few things to prepare here.

• Start to find the clutch biting point, you will need to be using the accelerator as the car will need more power on a hill.

• Note - This is like a seesaw, as the clutch comes up the accelerator needs to be push gently down.

• The handbrake is still on at this point as the biting point is reached the the car will start to strain against the brake.

• You should get the handbrake ready to release, this is typically pulling it up and pushing in the button, keep it in the ready to release position.

Step 3 - Observe

• Check the road you are moving into.

• Check your mirrors.

• Check over your left shoulder if turning left to make sure a cyclist hasn't snuck up along side you.

Step 4 - Manoeuvre

• Start to give the car a little bit more revs, chances are at first you will be over doing it, but this can be the lesser of the two evils, stalling means you are back to the start.

• Release the handbrake quickly and as you move forward.

• Release the clutch and continue to accelerate, moving away from the junction.

Step 5 - Keep going

Remember you are on a hill, you will need to build more speed than usual before changing gear.

• Keep building the revs as you move away from the junction.

• You will need to have between 500 and 1000 rpm more than you would normally, when changing up the gears. The engine will be more noisy than your usual driving.

• A quick gear change and away you go.

• You are back to normal driving.

Top tip - If your driving test centre is somewhere hilly remember to practice a few of your manoeuvres on a hill - a turn in the road, reversing a long a curb up and down hill.

Avoid Stalling or A Bouncy Start

It will come with time and practice. There are a few tell tale signs that a stall is heading in your direction, the key thing is don't panic. You either need more accelerator or press down the clutch.

Vibration

• Not enough revs, wrong gear and driving too slowly.

• The car will start to vibrate, the engine is struggling to push the car forward as it isn't getting enough fuel.

• Normally this happens as you are slowing down and have forgotten to change gear or you are coming to a standstill, see note on the emergency stop.

• Simply press down the clutch to prevent the stall.

"Kangerooing" Down the Road

Nothing to do with the Australian National Symbol, just a description of the way the car lurches down the road.

• You haven't given the car enough revs or, you give it a bit too much.

• The car lurches forward.

• Your foot comes off the accelerator.

• The car slows rapidly.

• Your foot hits the accelerator and and you are off again.

• Stop the cycle by putting your foot on the clutch, reset and go again.