If You're Driving A Stick....

blas · #1 05-01-2010, 04:59 PM

And you're sitting at a red light, and there are people behind you........PLEASE be courteous and do NOT roll backwards and scare the shit out of the people behind you that you may back into them.

I don't drive a stick, I'm not sure why people do this, but it irritates me. If there are people behind you, quit being lazy and make sure you aren't rolling backwards. I have to ask my brother, but I'm sure there is a way a manual transmission can sit still at a red light without rolling backwards. Especially if we are not on top of a hill.

I nearly shat myself the other morning on the way home because the douchebag at the front of the line kept rolling backwards as we waited for the light to change. And of course, I was right behind him.

Exaspera · #2 05-01-2010, 05:06 PM

Sometimes, when I'm on an incline, I can't help but roll back a bit before I can engage the clutch. How close do you sit behind the cars in front of you?

Mikkel · #3 05-01-2010, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Quoth blas

I'm sure there is a way a manual transmission can sit still at a red light without rolling backwards. Especially if we are not on top of a hill.

The same way as on an automatic, use the brake pedal. I always look out the side window to check that the car isn't rolling when I stop at a red light.

blas · #4 05-01-2010, 05:25 PM

I don't know exactly how far back I stay, but I try to keep common sense and stay back enough just in case they don't go right away when it turns green, because the norm around here is that people tend to race to the red light, but are too busy screwing around that they don't notice when it turns green.

Magpie · #5 05-01-2010, 06:10 PM

Are we talking about not rolling backwards while just stopped, or about not doing the bit on an incline where starting involves a minor backwards roll first? The former is inexcusable, the latter should involve a trip to Montreal and the driver's watch placed behind the wheels. (Friend of the family got taught to start on hills that way).

Exaspera · #6 05-01-2010, 06:15 PM

If the hill is really steep, like some in San Francisco, I'll use the emergency brake to help.

Technically, the space between non-moving cars should be enough that someone can see the rear tires of the person in front of them.

Aut · #7 05-01-2010, 06:39 PM

If they are rolling back in that moment between releasing th brake and accelerating, that's fine. But for the ones that refuse to hold the brake pedal down while waiting to go, that's wrong. They are failing to keep control of their vehicle and without the brake pedal being depressed, the brake lights are not engaged.

casey13 · #8 05-01-2010, 06:40 PM

It's kind of hard to have one foot on the clutch to prevent stalling, one on the brake, and one on the gas pedal.

Exaspera · #9 05-01-2010, 06:55 PM

I usually put it in neutral and keep my foot on the brake at a light. Less wear and tear on the clutch.

Mikkel · #10 05-01-2010, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Quoth casey13

It's kind of hard to have one foot on the clutch to prevent stalling, one on the brake, and one on the gas pedal.

While you are stopped, you have one foot on the brake and one on the clutch. If the incline isn't too steep, release the clutch to the point where it's just on the point of engaging, move your right foot to the speeder and you are away without rolling backwards (or not much). On a steep hill you pull the handbrake, move your right foot, release the clutch to the point of engaging, release the handbrake and go. It takes a bit of practise to coordinate everything, but you don't need three feet.