Controlling a manual car on high-traffic roads seems like a challenge, but you can effectively drive the car in crowded places with the right skills. If you prefer the manual over the automatic cars, you must learn to maneuver the busy city traffic.
So, how to drive a manual car in slow-moving traffic?
Firstly, go easy on the clutch, use the outside rearview windows, stick to the correct lane, stop gently, avoid distractions, use the parking sensors, and navigate unfamiliar streets with the GPS. These manual car-driving tips will help you master the art of maneuvering slow-moving traffic.
Contents
The Best Possible Ways to Drive a Manual Car in Slow-Moving Traffic.
1. Go easy on the clutch
You would want to reduce the car’s speed in traffic to avoid hitting the car ahead; thus, you would press the clutch entirely and slowly press on the brakes slowing the car down.
You should be gentle with the clutch when driving at slow-moving speed; thus, you may wait until the car ahead moves several feet before shifting into the first gear.
Then release the clutch fully and move ahead. If the cars ahead stop, you would do the same by ultimately pressing the clutch, stepping on the brakes slowly, and shifting to neutral.
So, it is better to drive slowly to avoid ramping to the car in front as the car behind may not stop as fast as you do.
2. Use the side mirrors and rearview mirror
The side and rearview mirrors will guide you in slow-moving traffic, and you should use them all the time. You should check the mirrors frequently; the left and right mirrors will spot two-wheelers trying to slip past the left side.
You may get the small convex mirrors that show the blind spot offering a more comprehensive field view.
4. You should stick with the correct lane
You will navigate your way through slow-moving traffic by sticking to the correct lane. Thus, following the right lane reduces the stress related to city driving.
It may be better to plan and change the lanes accordingly if you want to turn. Then use the indicators while shifting lanes to find the right lane to take a turn and use the indicators when turning to let the other drivers know your moves.
5. Stop gently
You may frequently stop in slow-moving traffic, and it is better to do so slowly. Check the rearview, especially on the pedestrian sign, as there might be a car wishing to beat the light.
If the driver is not anticipating stopping when the color is changing from yellow to red, they may ramp your booth. So, you should have the brake lights on as it lets the other drivers know you are about to stop. Then stop gently as it lets the car behind slow down and stop appropriately.
6. Avoid distractions
The last thing you would want is a distraction in slow-moving traffic. Here, it is better to lower the music and avoid using your phone. You would get hands-free systems on the car, which cause fewer distractions. You would want to monitor the other car’s movements and hear horns as they guide you to navigate your way through the traffic.
7. Use GPS navigation
You can use a GPS if you are driving in a new place. The GPS will guide the correct route, making it easy to navigate on busy highways. Moreover, you would not stop traffic by asking for directions from other drivers, and it eases your experience on an unknown road.
The Worst Possible Ways to Drive a Manual Car in Heavy Traffic
Although you can easily navigate heavy traffic with a manual car, you may face some challenges, especially if you’re driving a manual car.
If you don’t stick with the right lane, you will not reach your destination on time and get stuck in heavy traffic for a long time. Moreover, if you don’t monitor other vehicles on the road using the rear mirrors, you will not know their moves and fail to plan your next moves.
Furthermore, if you stop suddenly in heavy traffic, you might be involved in a fatal accident as the car behind might not stop as fast as you do.
How to Control the Clutch in Slow-Moving Traffic?
Clutch control is a must in controlling a car in slow-moving traffic. You should press the clutch down select gear one and get the gas revs up at around. The gas pedal does not make the car go fast, but it avoids stalling. You may wish to avoid stepping on the accelerator pedal when going downhill as it increases acceleration.
Do You Need To Press The Clutch Every Time You Push The Brake Pedal?
Yes, you have to press the clutch before pressing the brake pedal, but only if the car’s speed is less than the lowest speed gear you in operation. Otherwise, it’s a best practice to press only the brake pedal if the car has a little bit of speed.
Pressing the clutch pedal every time you hit the brake pedal only makes the clutch worn much faster and the costs of replacing it are high.
The clutch disengages the gearbox from the wheels, and the vehicle would be moving independently from the engine. That’s why you should engage the clutch first before the brakes to prevent damage to the engine clutch and transmission.
The car will stall if you don’t press the clutch first, as the engine will propel the wheel while the brakes are trying to stop the vehicle.
How To Drive In Slow-Moving Traffic Uphill?
When moving uphill, the car will need more acceleration. The best practice here is to step on the clutch, select the first gear, and press the acceleration pedal. However, you should gently press the pedal to accelerate the vehicle up the hill.
How to Drive-In Slow-Moving Traffic Downhill?
The car will flow on gravity downhill in slow-moving traffic. Therefore, you would step on the clutch, select the first gear, and slow down.
You would not need gas to drive the car downhill in slow-moving traffic as the car will flow with gravity and thus will not stall when you depress the clutch and change gears.
If the car’s speeding up, change gears if you don’t want the engine to be revved or maintain the car in a lower gear to maintain engine braking and to press the foot brake less often.
Conclusion
Although driving a manual car in slow-moving traffic may seem challenging for beginners, you can master the skill with practice. You should be gentle with the clutch, select the correct gear, and press the brakes gently to move the car slowly.
Try to not make sudden moves that will increase the chances of the car to stall, instead make gentle moves and be more patient.
