Experience Drive-7

Second week into my practical driving course. I have reached the second stage of the course, where every lesson is conducted on the roads. Basically about getting myself used to the traffic on the road, such as the traffic lights, signs and markings on the roads. Relatively smooth drive, except for areas where there are gentle slopes.

With the car rolling backward just after relasing the brakes to step on the accelerator, the first thing to do would be to move off as fast as you could. However, that might make things worse, as for me, whenever I heard the engine over-revving, I would reduce the pressure on the pedal, and at the same time, release the clutch a little too much. As a result, the engine starts to vibrate rather violently(a warning sign that the engine is about to stall), or it stalls.

The safest and cheapest way to prevent such an incident is, after coming to a stop, release your brakes slightly. If you notice the car starting to roll back,immediately depress the brake pedal again, and engage the handbrakes. Just before moving off, engage the half-clutch position with the clutch and accelerator pedals. You would feel the car vibrating gently, a change in the engine sound, and you would also notice the front of the car just dipped slightly. Release the handbrakes, and the car would move off right after that.

Another way, would be to hold the half-clutch position with the accelerator such that the car does not roll backward, nor does it move off. The delay in moving off is shorter, but it would accelerate the rate the clutch lining wears out, should you need to hold the car in a stationary position on a slope for too long.

I stalled twice, once at the slip road beside the Shell petrol station near MI, and the second time, at the edge of the yellow box just after the green light came on at the junction next to Club CSC @ Bukit Batok.

Basically, there wasn't much of a need to pay attention to the signs and markings that warned for me to slow the car down, except near the traffic lights, as there was no point in having me reducing the car down further from 30km/h.