When I took my drivers license test, growing up in Alaska, I would have passed with no marks except for I coasted to a stop at a light. I was told by my instructor that I should have downshifted from 3rd to 2nd, that coasting to a stop in 1st was okay but its illegal to remove the car from gear and coast.
So Alaska is one state, and im sure there are plenty of others. I doubt you'll get a ticket for coasting, but if you loose control of your vehicle on a downhill slope, and veer off the freeway and cause an accident... im sure you'll be cited for coasting
I wont try to explain why its safer to remain in gear. Anybody who has any bit of common sence should be able to understand why.
-Brian
Thanks, Brian. I was away from the computer for a bit as I was taking my Subaru on a road trip. (Theye love it when you do that, or at least mine does)
CA is annother, and IIRC, Virginia. Coasting is not the kind of driving law that they make bilboards about (like speeding or DUI), but if something happens while coasting you will be cited. When coasting down a grade, you will tend to speed up, and need to hit your brakes more often, causing them to heat up and wear faster. If you just remain in gear the usage of your brakes will be greatly reduced, and your control increased. OK so far this discussion has centered around manual transmissions. On an Auto tranny, when you reengage the tranny (moving the shifter from N to D) you get a massive sudden buildup of force that can break the tires loose from the road, or even do significant damage to the tranny itself. All in all, for either drive system, it is just not worth it.
