Driving Test - Use of handbrake

mcpitman

rainygreyhound wrote: »

Quote from that link:


It's one of my absolute pet hates to be honest. Stuck in traffic not moving and some inconsiderate person in front sits with their foot on the foot brake. Unfortunately so many people do it

Agree, generally automatic car drivers to stop the cars creeping forward in traffic.

Joe_Horner

loskie wrote: »

http://www.diaryofanadi.co.uk/?p=4700

Don't take this link as gospel because he's missed the most important use - bringing the back end round when you realise there's no way you're going to get round that hairpin at the speed you're doing. Especially important in modern, FWD, cars which tend to understeer in such situations!

dannyrst

TadleyBaggie wrote: »

If the car has Hill Start Assist, then using the foot brake is the only way to make it work.

Surely you shouldn't need it if the hand brake is on? It's only there to stop you rolling back whilst you move your foot from the brake to the accelerator.

AdrianC

Joe_Horner wrote: »

Don't take this link as gospel because he's missed the most important use - bringing the back end round when you realise there's no way you're going to get round that hairpin at the speed you're doing. Especially important in modern, FWD, cars which tend to understeer in such situations!

More likely to be a roundabout on a driving test.

EdGasket

My car doesn't have a handbrake (Merc W202) only an awkward foot operated 'parking brake' so generally I don't use it on a journey except on extreme slopes. Thankfully the car has a good clutch but trying to use the foot-parking brake and a clutch with the left foot is like trying to do the quickstep!

callistris

rainygreyhound wrote: »

It's one of my absolute pet hates to be honest. Stuck in traffic not moving and some inconsiderate person in front sits with their foot on the foot brake. Unfortunately so many people do it

Mine as well, and recently while stopped behind an Audi, the driver was sitting there at the lights in front of me with foot firmly on the brake pedal.

I jumped out and asked them to apply the handbrake and take their foot off the brake pedal as their lights were very dazzling.

They said "I can't mate its an auto"

"Yes so is my car and the handbrake is on" I said.
My brake lights on my Merc are very bright and I'm conscious of them dazzling those behind me.

People can be so inconsiderate when in the cocoon of their car!

almillar

If the car has Hill Start Assist, then using the foot brake is the only way to make it work.

Sure, cars have different systems, but you do NOT need to sit on the foot brake for minutes to make it work, you should still be on the handbrake if stopped for any significant amount of time.

Agree, generally automatic car drivers to stop the cars creeping forward in traffic.

Put the car in neutral! I've heard auto drivers talking about wearing something out by doing this but I don't believe it - I've done it in autos I've driven without problem.

They said "I can't mate its an auto"

Yes, 'mate' and could you please give me the technical details as to why, and show me these instructions in your user manual?!!!

The thing is, most people don't use the handbrake out of laziness. But they're actually putting more effort in, and risking cramp, but holding the footbrake!

Driving test - I always thought that it WAS necessary for the test, but maybe it's just highly recommended, a check, to demonstrate to the examiner that you have stopped.

orionmoo

The Audi will quite possibly have the 'hold assist' button switched on. This keeps the brakes applied (foot brake, thus brake lights) even when you take your foot off the pedal. Only after awhile of being stationary will the electronic parking brake apply automatically and the brake lights go out.

That said, at any time the driver can just pull the EPB switch themselves....

DigForVictory

I've recently been trained out of leaning on the brake. My mechanic drove me to look at a car & eavesdropping on his opinions of other road users? Eye opening.
(His wife laughed like a drain when I thanked him as I hadn't known how to pronounce some of the words.)

I returned a hire car with the fingertip switch handbrake with huge relief. I like something I can get a grip on.

neilmcl

callistris wrote: »

Mine as well, and recently while stopped behind an Audi, the driver was sitting there at the lights in front of me with foot firmly on the brake pedal.

I jumped out and asked them to apply the handbrake and take their foot off the brake pedal as their lights were very dazzling.

They said "I can't mate its an auto"

"Yes so is my car and the handbrake is on" I said.
My brake lights on my Merc are very bright and I'm conscious of them dazzling those behind me.

People can be so inconsiderate when in the cocoon of their car!

Good for you, and I agree about Merc lights, I think they're one of the most dazzling brake lights I come across.