How to Move/Drive off: (Licence2Drive ~ Drivers Licence Guide)
- To drive off correctly you must learn to balance your accelerator pedal and clutch-pedal. Make sure that your gear lever is in neutral, and that your handbrake is up, before you start your vehicles' engine.
- To put your vehicle into first gear you must use your left foot, and push the clutch in as far as possible (completely).
- If you want to drive off without stalling or jerking you must push the accelerator down slowly. When you hear the engine rev a little (if you have a rev counter in your vehicle, take the rev up to ± 1 000 revs per minute (r.p.m), slowly lift your foot off the clutch until you feel the back end of your vehicle dropping a little, or until you see the front end of your vehicle lift a little (if you have a rev counter you can see the revs drop to ± 750 r.p.m.).
- When you have balanced the accelerator and clutch (keep your feet very still at this point), free the handbrake, put your hand back on the steering wheel, now you will feel and see your vehicle slowly beginning to move forward.
- When your vehicle has moved forward a couple of meters and the engines rev settles, slowly release the clutch while at the same time pressing down the accelerator. Remember that if you keep the heel of your foot firmly on the floor you would or should have better control over the vehicle and clutch.
- Once you can drive off and the vehicle can move forward slowly, with practice you can learn how to stop smoothly at any given position and moment.
