Clutch, When at a red light do you wait in neutral or in gear?

I don't think there is a "right" answer to the OPs question. Regardless of the driving test. Hitting a curb is also a failure. How many of you hit at least 1 curb a week? Because of the infrastructure, I did more then I would care to admit. Back in the days when I did drive a manual, I sit in the proper gear with the clutch IN. My reasoning was I was already multitasking as it was. When you are stopped is not the time to be adjusting a radio station or telling your wife and girlfriend how much you miss her with a text. You should be really watching those right side mirrors to make sure some little Honda has not slipped in your blind side. You should still be scanning your instruments and watching not just the traffic but the dynamics OF the traffic. With this load of tasks, I rather not be trying to engage a transmission. I make no bones about being old school when it comes to this topic. I can't tell you how many times I have watched a driver stopped at a light with their attention INSIDE the truck! When stopped at a light having your attention INSIDE the truck is the LAST PLACE you want. It's interesting I was speaking to a friend that works in a top 10 mega safety dept the other day on a variant of this topic. The driver he told me about had sideswiped a small car while stopped in downtown Columbia SC. The driver's defense? I did not see the car.

I know I seemed to have morphed the topic, but in actuality, I have not. being stopped at a light is not "taking a break" from driving. It can be argued that being stopped like this increases your attention to detail when stopped. Don't believe me? Want to make a post telling me I am full of rubberized dog crap? I challenge you to speak to your safety dept and see how many claims are paid out because of accidents arising from being stopped at a light! For me? I'm not superman, I can't be Valentino the lover, US Sec of State and maintain my due diligence while stopped like that. I had rather have my truck in the proper gear ready to MOVE when the traffic starts.

 

@Moose1958 , I agree with many of your points, although in practice I do sit in neutral at a light or RR crossing. Personally, as far as I'm concerned, each driver should do what they decide is best for them, as long as they do it safely, and are ready to go so as not to impede traffic. My only issue is when someone makes a claim that a certain action is illegal, then I expect they can back it up with a regulation demonstrating their claim. You cited a regulation that all of us have seen in one form or another, and then properly stated that to the best of your knowledge, there is no regulation that applies to the OP's scenario. I have always maintained that I have not seen a specific regulation either, but could be wrong about it, and I am perfectly willing to accept any evidence that there is.

 

This is why I started that comment with there is no right answer. Everything I mentioned think about it now in regard to backward facing cameras? In a few years drivers are going to be coping with these things and more. Would you believe there is research into mandating breathalyzers being incorporated into QCs and like devices? Wait till the day comes when all your elog information is made available to that weighmaster sitting at their console before you cross through. Honestly I blame my generation for this. I will not get into deeper detail. Im just glad I no longer have to deal with this garbage.

 

I watch the cross traffic lights. If they’re not fully hooded, you can see when they turn yellow.

Still trying to figure out why this is even a thing for a driver to complain about.

 

I've been trying to figure out how much longer I want to drive. Some days I feel that my twenty five years is enough, and maybe that office job isn't so bad after all.

The problem is, I don't know anything else. I would probably need to go back to school. And maybe that wouldn't be so bad, either.

 

I grind that ##### into 3rd force it then I sit with clutch in if I’m coming to a stop I put it into neutral just before I stop then gear it

 

Really?

 

In? Out? Whatever I feel like at the moment.

 

For new drivers - clutch in, gear selected. Hopefully 2nd.

For us more seasoned, nuetral.

 

I try not to stop at red lights, as I slow down before I get to a red light. At 4 mph, you will cover a football field length in a minute, at 2 mph in you will travel half a football field in a minute.

If you watch the cross traffic, you will see if the red is about to go green, and you can start upshifting....if you judged wrong and need to stop, no big deal, because it won’t be long until the light changes.