Clutch Control
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Clutch control will be referred to often during your lessons. It means controlling the speed of the car using small movements of the clutch pedal. It is usually used during very slow manoeuvres when raising the clutch all the way would make the car go too fast.
When you have had a few lessons, it is a good idea to practice clutch control as it helps you become more confident with the car. I would recommend practicing clutch control at some point in the 'move away and stop' lesson.
To practice clutch control
Find a quiet, straight, flat road.
Press the clutch down and select 1st gear.
Press the gas pedal slightly and find the clutch biting point as in the move away.
Ask your supervisor to do any observations so you can concentrate on your feet.
Release the handbrake.
When the car starts to move, keep the gas steady and push the clutch pedal down very, very slightly to stop the car gathering too much speed.
If the car slows down too much, raise the pedal slightly - but not all the way up.
Try to keep the car extremely slow by using these very small clutch movements.
Practice as often as you can on straight, flat roads so that, when you have to do more complicated manoeuvres, you are comfortable with using clutch control to keep the speed right.
Don't practice for too long at one time for fear of burning the clutch out!
