sitting at lights with foot on the brakes - why

TrickyWicky

skivenov wrote: »

Handbrake will hold an auto in place even if it's in drive.

Never really understood how an auto works then eh?

If you leave it in D with the hand brake, it's still trying to pull forwards. If another car hits you from behind the car will start pulling forwards and not want to stop. Plus on a hill facing down most auto handbrakes won't hold in D at all.

Although I learnt to drive in a manual, I was told that if you drive an auto, you only use the handbrake for parking and keep your foot on the footbrake at lights etc. Shifting from N to D requires you to hit the footbrake, move the shift and wait for it to move into gear. That can often take longer than a manual gearbox being put into 1st.

nearlyrich

My car is auto but it also has stop/start so it just switches off at lights anyway...

TrickyWicky

You won't be proud of that when it's 10 years old and struggling to start with a failing headgasket lol

arcon5

Op- I do believe the handbrake method is correct as it means if somebody hits you from behind it will help stop the car as your foot would undoubtedly come off the brake pedal. But then much of the driving bible does assume a one size to fit all

mgdavid

arcon5 wrote: »

I'll sit on brake if i'm near the front so I don't have to mess around with handbrake and what not. I'll possibly put handbrake on if i'm at the back, as well as sit on the brake pedal if on a fast moving road.

But all in all, does it really matter?! Not everybody is the same

Yes it does matter, it's bl00dy inconsiderate to the person behind you.

Johnmcl7

I tend to use the handbrake as I've seen other people on forums complaining about the brake lights being too bright and it's inconsiderate although I've never found the brake lights on the car in front to be an annoyance and certainly not blinding.

John

marlot

arcon5 wrote: »

...
But brake lights are hardly that dazzling, especially compared to some headlights which can be quite intense.

I completely disagree. The LED brakelights on some cars really hurt the eyes if you're behind them.

I keep my foot on the brake if I'm the last person in the queue, then switch to the handbrake unless I'm expecting the lights to go green in the next few seconds.

adouglasmhor

happyc84 wrote: »

not at all, was just thinking about the wear and tear on my brakes, and what is safest if hit from behind; handbrake or foot on pedal.

No wear and tear if you are sitting on the brakes as your car is STATIONARY! You are right about handbrake being safer though, but it's marginal.
In saying that often I use my parking brake - even though I get the odd bell end who beeps when they see my reversing lights go on as the gearstick passes through R on its way from P to D. A BMW driver who was far too close did it at 3 sets of lights on Thursday/

marlot

adouglasmhor wrote: »

No wear and tear if you are sitting on the brakes as your car is STATIONARY! You are right about handbrake being safer though, but it's marginal.
In saying that often I use my parking brake - even though I get the odd bell end who beeps when they see my reversing lights go on as the gearstick passes through R on its way from P to D. A BMW driver who was far too close did it at 3 sets of lights on Thursday/

I just nudge the selector to N, rather than use P.

adouglasmhor

If it's flat as a pancake I will sit in N, if I am facing us a steep hill I have been know to sit in D with the W button pushed in, rather than use the brakes at all.