Improve your driving with these Clutch Control tips

Learning to drive is a huge milestone for many people; gaining that skill gives you freedom to go to the places you want to without having to ask someone to take you or using public transport to get there. This skill isn’t one that comes easy and requires dedication and effort to get you where you want to be.

The clutch is a key component for your car and the tool you need to be familiar with to take your car from place to place. Proper clutch control is essential for the driving purpose of your car. Failure to maintain clutch control means that you also have less control over the car, thus making you a road hazard as you could possible cause an accident. When driving a manual car it is essential that you master controlling the clutch as soon as possible.

The clutch has three key functions to help you operate your vehicle. The clutch pedal helps to move from one gear to another while driving. It’s also used to control the car when coming to a stop- prevents stalling and lastly it can be used to stop the car while travelling at slower speeds or used effectively for clutch control – when the clutch pedal is half engaged.

Here are a few pointers on improving your driving with the following clutch control tips:

• Firstly you need to learn how to find the ‘bite’ point when using the clutch; which is when the clutch plates start to meet and you should be able to establish this point easily. Finding this point will allow you to stop depressing the car which causes damage to the car in the long run. Remember that these plates move apart when the clutch pedal is fully pressed down.
• The dreaded steep hill is the starting point for effective clutch control practice. It’s very easy to stall your vehicle when taking off from the bottom of the hill. You also need to be wary of the car rolling backwards if you don’t bring the clutch to its bite point in time.
• Practice makes perfect; try putting the handbrake down and depressing the clutch. Also give the car a little more power than you would usually on a flat surface, then slowly start to raise the clutch until you hit the bite point. From this point you will find that you can raise the handbrake and the car will remain stationery as long as you are on the bite point. Give the car a little bit more power but be careful not to overdo it.

The key is to be calm, relaxed and to show confidence in your driving. This is how you better yourself and reduce the errors you make over time. Be able to get back up after a few faults in the road. Be as cautious as you possibly can be to prevent any life threatening mistakes.