Is the use of a handbrake or parking brake still taught?

[gerrymoore]

I've just taken (and passed - phew!) my advanced driving test. I used an automatic car and everytime I stopped I had to put it in park and put the handbrake on...every time without fail. It's taken me 6 months of weekly observation, an hour or more at a time, to unlearn my bad habits over 50years and re-learn to drive 'properly' .....but I do now feel I am a better and safer driver for it. The test is 90 minutes long and you cannot make a mistake even though you are nervous....1 mph over the limit is a fail and you are taught to 'make progress' in other words if it's a 50mph limit then you should, if safe, be doing 50mph.

I might just add that my wife bought me the course as a 'present' last Christmas...this Christmas I've told her to just buy me some socks

 

[Harry_Worth]

Just wondered as these days when you sit at traffic lights 99% of the cars are all sitting there with their high level rear brake lights glowing dazzling the people behind.
Am I the only person to use the parking brake any more? As lots of cars now have the dreaded electric one they have made it even easier!

I sit on brake as my latest company car doesn't have a handbrake just a little switch and an automatic brake engage which I can't bring myself to trust. I've already had a couple of incidents where I flick switch to put 'handbrake' on and I'm inadvertently switching it off. Can't easily change a habit of forty years of pulling up handbrake lever.

 

[rtcosic]

I've just taken (and passed - phew!) my advanced driving test. I used an automatic car and everytime I stopped I had to put it in park and put the handbrake on

I'm now an auto driver.
I use the electrically operated parking brake and put it in Neutral. I was told that if I got rear-ended then putting it in Park would mean a new gearbox as well as body repairs. I use the term Parking Pawl and imagine a pin engaging a notch somewhere. Or is this old technology these days? On my gate Park is past Reverse so you might get a flash of reversing light to confuse the poor snowflake behind you as well.

I just flick one notch to Drive and touch the throttle and away she goes. So much easier than being trapped in one position with my foot on the brake.

I also knock the lever across the J-gate and use lower gear down long descents and when slowing, especially on dual carriageways approaching a roundabout. Not for 'normal' driving approaching bends etc, then I admit to lazy use of the footbrake.

My boys do the same. I taught them to drive, then paid an instructor to teach them how to pass the test. In more than one country.

I'm getting old! But I do use my Sat Nav.

 

[rtbcomp]

after being hit from behind i can assure you your foot on that brake dosnt move had the whiplash injuries as well across shoulders and back of the neck or it didnt in my case however the lady driver did send the towball and bar a foot underneath the car on a peugeot 405

I've only been hit twice from behind, once on the motorway, and I saw it coming both times and braced myself and my feet stayed firmly planted on the pedals!

 

[pedrobedro]

When I took my test (they had just dropped the man with the red flag walking in front of the car) it was taught you only needed to use the handbrake if the car was going to roll backwards, any other time it was footbrake only. If you have a problem with brake lights dazzling you get your eyes looked at.

 

[rtbcomp]

^^ yes but in those days brake lights weren't as bright as they are now, the Lucas D-Lamps didn't have reflectors behind the bulbs and the lamps were positioned low down. These days the lenses are thinner, they have reflectors behind the bulbs and in a lot of cases the lights are at windscreen level.

 

[pedrobedro]

^^ yes but in those days brake lights weren't as bright as they are now, the Lucas D-Lamps didn't have reflectors behind the bulbs and the lamps were positioned low down. These days the lenses are thinner, they have reflectors behind the bulbs and in a lot of cases the lights are at windscreen level.

Brake lights are 21w or equivalent, only time I notice them a car in front of me in a row of traffic is if one of his brake lights is not working.

 

[Wallace]

Son is just through his test. It has all changed since I passed my test in 83. The handbrake is pretty much used for parking.

It seems todays drivers are taught to wear the clutch out before the handbrake.

Some Mercedes brake lights are so bright in traffic I have used the sun visor until the traffic moves.

 

[anto]

When I took my test (they had just dropped the man with the red flag walking in front of the car) it was taught you only needed to use the handbrake if the car was going to roll backwards, any other time it was footbrake only. If you have a problem with brake lights dazzling you get your eyes looked at.

My eyes are fine.
Yes, they do dazzle particularly when it is wet and dark and even moreso if the car in front has LED rear lights.

 

[dobbslc]

Without a doubt they do dazzle especially in the rain, if you've got perfect eyesight then you're lucky!
Front indicators on Nissan Qasqui's and XTrails almost invisible with the stupid dangerous daytime running lights on. I've nearly had a smack when someone has turned right cross me without indicating only to notice they were in fact indicating as I see the feeble orange flicker as they turn and the LED running lights are now facing off in another direction.
Mercedes Sprinter vans have a very common reverse switch fault where they flick on the reverse lights putting it into neutral.

 

[Wedg1e]

Mercedes Sprinter vans have a very common reverse switch fault where they flick on the reverse lights putting it into neutral.

My TVR has the old LT77 box where reverse is next to 1st; if I push the stick to the left when in 1st the reversing lights come on due to play in the workings.
Coupled with a blip of throttle it can be used to frighten those particular knobbers who fly up behind you at lights and brake at the last second...

 

[normspanners]

It's more common around here for people to indicate right when approaching a roundabout and continue to indicate right while on the roundabout, while leaving the roundabout and for at least 1/4 mile afterwards.

Most of That is modern self cancellers that are useless on the one touch columbs. I hate them.

Probably the most dangerous thing of all is people going right around a roundabout in the left hand lane!

most of that is the stupid white lane lines that are now on roundabouts to try and force people to do just that.

Just wondered as these days when you sit at traffic lights 99% of the cars are all sitting there with their high level rear brake lights glowing dazzling the people behind.
Am I the only person to use the parking brake any more? As lots of cars now have the dreaded electric one they have made it even easier!

try driving a merc with the stupid foot parking brakes all crash bang and no release control

 

[wookie]

i dont really get why cars have half of this stuff tho, if you can't manage a hillstart, park your car or reverse for that matter you should ether learn or not be allowed a car.

Unfortunately far too many people who have no interest in driving what so ever are getting a car because they need it as a mode of transport because not having a car is too much of an inconvenience these days (think out of town shopping, to get to work etc) hence why we have so many poor drivers.

Talking of indicators what baffles me is the people who indicate left to leave a roundabout but don't bother indicating right which is much more important! I can understand people not indicating at all - but why do so many do this? indicating left to leave is more courtesy than anything but indicating right is pretty important!

I was first taught to only use the left indicator to leave a roundabout and to start indicating as soon as I past the exit before the one I want. Years later when doing an additional test I was taught to use the right indicator whilst on the roundabout and change to a left indicator as I past the exit before the one I want.

Nowadays I only do a right indicator if I'm going past 12 o'clock and will be crossing the main flow of traffic otherwise it's it's potentially too confusing to oncoming traffic. I personally can't understand people not indicating at all unless it's half three in the morning and you're the only one on the road.

On my gate Park is past Reverse so you might get a flash of reversing light to confuse the poor snowflake behind you as well.

Doesn't confuse me at all, I just see the flash of reverse and know you are driving an automatic, but then I'm not your average driver insofar as I like driving and actually understand how a car works.

 

[tlovatt]

try driving a merc with the stupid foot parking brakes all crash bang and no release control

That is what the hold brake function fitted to mercs with the foot operated handbrake was for, once stationary briefly depress the brake pedal firmly and it will hold the foot brake on for you, you can then just drive off and it will automatically release (or press the brakes again if you want to release manually) its actually a nice system

 

[normspanners]

That is what the hold brake function fitted to mercs with the foot operated handbrake was for, once stationary briefly depress the brake pedal firmly and it will hold the foot brake on for you, you can then just drive off and it will automatically release (or press the brakes again if you want to release manually) its actually a nice system

Never seen one that works and have mot'd thousands when you release the footbrake brake it just comes off on most.

 

[indy4x]

My daughter is currently learning to drive and as per other posts they are taught that the parking brake is now only used for parking and its not a hand brake. She kept telling me that the way I drive is not what is taught anymore so I went out with her on a few of her driving lessons to see how teach you these days and stuff has changed.

Anti roll back and anti stall should be banned on cars when you are being taught to drive, when she drives mine or the wifes they have none of these features and it has caught her out a few times

 

[normspanners]

http://www.iam-bristol.org.uk/index...-s-guide/31-handbrake-long-stay-or-short-stay

Handbrake – Long stay or Short stay?
Apart from an emergency (i.e. if the brakes have failed) the purpose of the handbrake is primarily to secure the vehicle when it is stationary and this is the reason that it should always be the first step in your ‘Cockpit Drill’. However, once you are on the road it would usually be applied before selecting neutral and after the vehicle has come to a stop. Selecting neutral before securing the vehicle with the handbrake leaves you vulnerable if another vehicle comes into the back (or front) or if you have inadvertently stopped on a slope or are manoeuvring on a camber.

However, there are two types of ‘stationary’ or ‘stay’ as we sometimes say – these are long stay and short stay. Long stay might be at a road junction waiting to turn right and for a long line of traffic to pass - or where the traffic lights you are approaching have only just turned red. Short stay might be when you have just drawn up at red lights but you are confident they are about to turn green - or perhaps at a roundabout when you are waiting on only two or three vehicles before you can go. NB. You should adopt the short stay principle at pedestrian crossings!

1. Long stay = HBN: Handbrake before Neutral. Adopting the long stay principle immediately secures the vehicle from forces both without and within. It will also save wear on the clutch thrust bearings and linkage components such as cables and cylinder seals.
2. Short stay = GBH: Gear before Handbrake. Adopting the short stay principle sets you ready to go with only the handbrake to release. In principle, advanced drivers are “planning to go but always prepared to stop”.

However, whichever principle you adopt for a particular hazard you should always apply the handbrake without ‘ratcheting’ the lever. Ratcheting is the malpractice of pulling up the handbrake without first pushing in the release button - thus invoking the all too familiar click-click-click sound which demonstrates a lack of knowledge or vehicle sympathy and which results in premature wear of the handbrake ratchet rack and pawl.

Remember that an advanced driver should not expect to use the handbrake every time they stop. Learner drivers are taught to apply the handbrake every time they stop because of the complexities of dealing with a multiplicity of considerations at an early stage in their driving career but for advanced drivers there are many circumstances where this is quite unnecessary. For example, you will usually apply the handbrake at traffic lights, on hills, waiting to turn right and always at a pedestrian crossing but not always necessarily when manoeuvring on level ground or when stopping briefly at a ‘Stop’ sign.

However, see the document ‘Stop Signs’ for more information about how best to deal with this situation when on your advanced driving test. GKB 2017

For handbrake use with automatics: Footnote by Andy Poulton; Staff Examiner

“For Autos the same applies at long and short stops but the car ‘may’ be left in drive unless the brake is weak and engine strong when it ‘may’ have to be put in neutral or park.

For Mercedes cars with left FOOT operated parking brake - the above still applies but the routine of applying the parking brake with the foot needs to be adopted. Some Observers with the necessary patience and the good skills of the Associate have been able to encourage the Associate to apply and release this brake without the ratchet noise and clunk!

This takes up a lot of time and practice and will not be needed to be demonstrated on test”.

 

[fizzy]

http://www.iam-bristol.org.uk/index...-s-guide/31-handbrake-long-stay-or-short-stay




Remember that an advanced driver should not expect to use the handbrake every time they stop. Learner drivers are taught to apply the handbrake every time they stop because of the complexities of dealing with a multiplicity of considerations at an early stage in their driving career but for advanced drivers there are many circumstances where this is quite unnecessary. For example, you will usually apply the handbrake at traffic lights, on hills, waiting to turn right and always at a pedestrian crossing but not always necessarily when manoeuvring on level ground or when stopping briefly at a ‘Stop’ sign.



This takes up a lot of time and practice and will not be needed to be demonstrated on test”.

It seems to me then that all these new drivers must be experts! I thought they were just lazy and clueless....................

 

[normspanners]

Apparently, it had become correct that if you're going down a steep hill slowly that you should put your foot on the clutch and use the footbrake for control - "if you're in gear, it might run away with you"...

How CRAZY exactly the opposite of what you are supposed to do !! try coming down some hills in the alps !!

 

[fizzy]

On a far more serious note there was a nasty accident in Bath recently. A stone lorry with a new driver ran away down a hill and killed several people. The lorry owner and the mechanic received very stiff jail terms due to the bad state of the lorry but the driver was found not guilty.
Now I am not saying the verdict was wrong however I think an older driver wouldn't have had an accident. The new driver had cooked the brakes and it was bad fade that caused the accident. He was driving as he had been taught.
I called into the Tesco petrol station in Glynneath at the bottom of the A465 hill one day. There was a tanker discharging petrol. The smell of burning brakes was awful and I could see smoke still coming from the wheels. I asked the driver what was wrong and he said - oh it always does it after that hill. Needless to say when I asked him if he used his gears I was told there is no need to do that on modern lorries.................