Why do you lose ‘control’ over your car when you use your clutch before braking?

Question

When I am driving in my car and I have to brake for something, I always use the clutch first and then brake. From what I hear, you then have no control over your car, why is that? And why is that not the case when you first brake and then use the clutch when rpm is low enough.

In: 1

Answer 1

It’s generally not necessary to clutch or downshift when braking, unless it’s so much the engine runs too slow.

Pushing the clutch is like being in neutral, but in gear you can speed up or slow down without shifting at all.