Using the handbrake when stopping at lights and junctions

sevenhills

Guerillatoker wrote: »

The poster is correct anyway. The proper driving technique is to engage the handbrake.

One of my daughters instructor didnt tell her that she must use the hand brake at junctions.
I guess its ok not to use it if you know the lights will change soon, even on the level you shouldntkeep the footbrake pressed for long periods, especially in the wet.

jk0

Another handbrake user of 37 years driving here. I keep an eye on the other light phases, then you can make a good guess when to put the car in gear.

Tigsteroonie

Robisere wrote: »

Quite often I have to wait for the same 'creeping' driver to react to the green light.

This does annoy me - they creep to the lights, sometimes they even creep over the white line, and then they're incredibly slow to react and pull away :rotfl:

prowla

It's good to be able to hold the car on the clutch, but generally you should apply the handbrake when you are stopped.


Not least because if someone does git it wrong and bump you from behind, you may get a surprise and leap out into the crossing traffic.


As far as instructors go, I think they must be deficient in my area because nobody knows how to use their indicators, so they must be being taught wrong.

daveyjp

AdrianC wrote: »

It's the first lesson...

Does nobody think that the instructor might perhaps simply be getting the OP used to basic car control in that first lesson, aiming to minimise disruption to other drivers? Fine detail can come later...

But, no... YouTube...

Exactly. My dad taught for 25 years. I'm pretty sure on the very first lesson he didn't go through every single aspect of driving!

OP a good instructor should give you a basic lesson plan so you have an idea what will be covered, They should feedback at the end of every lesson and give info on what will be covered next time.

wild666

tgon wrote: »

+1 engage handbrake. Getting away from the lights quickly isn’t relevant.

Unless you have a boy racer behind who wants to fast start as soon as the lights turn amber or sees a pit of a gap in the traffic at the junction.

EdGasketTheSecond

prowla wrote: »

It's good to be able to hold the car on the clutch,

REALLY? No wonder clutches are burning out in a few thousand miles if thats what current drivers are doing :eek:

Arklight

In the Almera I'd habitually hold her on the clutch if there was a slight incline.

134,000 miles says I'm not wrong. And her new owner will reap the benefits too.

LandyAndy

prowla wrote: »

It's good to be able to hold the car on the clutch, but generally you should apply the handbrake when you are stopped.


.

EdGasketTheSecond wrote: »

REALLY? No wonder clutches are burning out in a few thousand miles if thats what current drivers are doing :eek:

When I learned it was an essential skill. You couldn't do a hill start with hand signals without having mastered holding on the clutch.

Car_54

LandyAndy wrote: »

When I learned it was an essential skill. You couldn't do a hill start with hand signals without having mastered holding on the clutch.

In what circs did you need an arm signal while doing a hill start?