To ask a really stupid question about driving

[uhhuhh]

I've been driving for years so I should know this, but I don't. I'm too embarrassed to ask anyone in real life. When you're driving do you always need to be pressing on the accelerator? I drive a manual & when I am going downhill I don't press the accelerator at all, the car sort of rolls down. If I am on a flat straight road I press my foot down a bit but not much. Do I need to do that or will the car move by itself provided it's in the right gear?

It depends.

When you aren't pressing the accelerator, the car will still give the engine enough fuel to 'idle'. Depending on the car and what gear you're in, it might keep driving at a steady speed at idle, or it might slow down and stall the engine.

On a downhill slope, gravity will keep the car moving too.

Unless your car has a two stroke engine like a Trabant (it definitely doesn't) then it's fine to take your foot off the accelerator if you don't need the power.

If you are driving a Trabant you can freewheel in 4th gear only

Big thanks to IfNot and Gerry for suggesting I'm "dumb". It was just a question. Thanks to the serious explanations, that was helpful.

You can't press the brake and accelerator at once though because you're supposed to use the same foot.

Yes you can, it’s called heel and toe. Generally used for rev matching on downshifts under braking.

When you aren't pressing the accelerator, the car will still give the engine enough fuel to 'idle'.

Only once the revs drop to around idle speed. Lift off above say 1500rpm and there won’t be any fuel injected at all.

Wow. Sometimes, I just... wow.

Try taking your foot off the accelerator and see what happens. Amazingly, you don't stop instantly.