You're not because at 10-15mph in 5th you will probably have pushed the clutch out. The point is not about what is happening once you get right down that that kind of speed. The point is whether you break the drivetrain, take a hand off the wheel, let the clutch in on a relaxed throttle, risk a snatched change and unnecessary wear (however small) and all several times before you get there.
You are more in control by braking in one smooth action down to the speed that you need and then changing to an appropriate gear *once*.
That's not all though is it, it's not *just* a wasted gearchange, you're risking more than that. (See above)
So push the clutch out.
Underuse of brakes 5461like they were saying : In many cases, that makes perfect sense to me, too. However, it seems to me that Mark's suggesting doing that in ALL cases...
Underuse of brakes 5462I could, but I'm not going to just because you say so. If it's pointless, don't continue it. ...or even the interpretation with which I agree. How does...
Look, if you get down to that speed whilst braking then, if you're going stop, you push the clutch out, continue braking and stop. It takes probably 2 or three seconds at most. If you're not going to stop then select an appropriate gear for the speed and either keep moving slowly or accelerate. Why is this so hard for people to understand?
-- Mark Foster, Brighton, Suslove, UK PGP Fingerprint: 3342 C02C 7BE8 3FE4 AAC5 8BB2 03B7 9263 DDF2 04C1 -------------------------------------------------- "There are no such useless words as, 'I didn't have a chance.'" Driving, HMSO
