Originally Posted By: BuickGN
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Originally Posted By: BuickGN
Originally Posted By: olddognewtrks
My best guess regarding illegality: Decades ago, when these laws were enacted, cars and trucks had really lousy brakes, and often non-synchronized gearboxes. If your brakes overheated on a downhill run, and you couldn't get it into gear for engine braking, you were toast. Solution? Mandate engine braking/running in gear. (Anyone here remember Harry Chapin's song "30,000 pounds of Bananas"?)
My highway patrol friend says it has to do with "control". At a redlight you're supposed to be able to pop the clutch/let off the brake and hit the gas and move out of the way if the need should arise. Same if you're going down the freeway and you need to accelerate quickly for an emergency.
Does that mean legally you should be stopped at a light with the clutch depressed and the car in gear? That would really wear out a Throw Out Bearing early.
I'm almost positive he said exactly that, in gear, clutch in. I'll clarify today.
There's nothing in the California Drivers Handbook that specifically addresses that.
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/hdbk/driver_handbook_toc.htm
I did look up the California Vehicle Code (and "highway" is defined as any road or street):
Quote:
21710. The driver of a motor vehicle when traveling on down grade
upon any highway shall not coast with the gears of such vehicle in
neutral.
I looked up anything in the Vehicle code that included "gear" or neutral", and couldn't find anything that addresses leaving a vehicle stopped in neutral at a light or stop sign. That obviously wouldn't be "coasting".