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

[fizzy]

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!

 

[Kayos]

Most, if not all, newer cars have hill start assist, come off the brake and it holds the car while you press the accelerator.

In fact my 58 plate transit had it so not even that new

 

[dannyp]

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.

 

[hunter27]

Am I the only person to use the parking brake any more?

No you are not, It is a pain especially when it's dark and raining and the prat in front is sitting with his foot on the brake pedal (often for several minutes) dazzling anyone behind, it's just inconsiderate driving.

 

[fizzy]

No you are not, It is a pain especially when it's dark and raining and the prat in front is sitting with his foot on the brake pedal (often for several minutes) dazzling anyone behind, it's just inconsiderate driving.

Thank God for that! People wonder why it bother's me. The thing is it isn't just the odd car it seems to be ALL of them!

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Generally I knock it into neutral and sit on the foot brake unless I know its gonna be a while or the hill is very steep.
My brake lights on the van certainly won't be dazzling anyone.
The bigger question here is why are car lights so bright these days. Yes the driver has good vision but what about other road users.

Edit. Except indicators. There crap on new cars.

 

[rtbcomp]

When I stop at lights &c I keep my footbrake on until I'm certain the guy coming from behind is going to stop, then I transfer to handbrake. He's less likely to hit me and if he does I've got brakes on 4 wheels instead of two. I don't run the handbrake up the ratchet either.

 

[fizzy]

I tend to be paranoid and stop with a fair gap and keep one eye in the rear mirror just in case. It certainly worked last week. At a set of lights and the bloke behind just wasn't stopping. I looked and he was rummaging in the passenger glovebox! A blast of the horn and he paid attention - good job I left some acceleration room!

 

[Parm]

I had a driver assessment at my new job. I'm twice as old as all the kiddies

Slowing down by going thro the gears when approaching lights and applying the hand brake isn't taught these days.

Neither is driving properly, reversing round a corner, motorway driving or re else parking. I know from the number of accident reports that come through

 

[fizzy]

Sadly it isn't taught to lorry drivers either. The official line is that the brakes should be good enough. Should and the real world are rather different. You still see signs on hills saying use a low gear - and for a good reason!

 

[rtbcomp]

I do pretty much the same usually - except I put the handbrake on and knock neutral, while keeping my foot on the brake until the car behind has stopped.

Having brakes on 4 wheels is all well and good, but if you get nudged the force causes your foot to leave the pedal, leaving you with brakes on no wheels...

That's taken as said. I end up in neutral anyway because I'll be using 1st or 2nd to move off.

 

[Justme]

Its taught to be used when needed.
Pause becomes a wait etc etc.

Sadly most people dont actually do what they are taught for long after the test.

Even those that do use it still sit with feet on the pedals.

 

[Wedg1e]

Must have been scrapped along with how, when and why to use indicators at roundabouts
It's got to the stage now where my view is: if you can't be bothered to indicate then I can't be bothered to give way

 

[Tiggy_dorset]

Indicators... now thats another topic. It boils my blood the lack of indication these days. I would be *thumbs up* for fines for lack of indication. Better indication = better forward planning = better traffic flow = less congestion = less pollution (for the envoronmentalists).

 

[fizzy]

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!

 

[fizzy]

Probably the most dangerous thing of all is people going right around a roundabout in the left hand lane! If you don't know the correct exit stay right! When I took my test I misunderstood the examiner's instruction so I just did a complete circuit of the roundabout in the right lane and then turned off where he wanted. He told me afterwards that was the main reason I passed my test.

 

[gaz1]

When I stop at lights &c I keep my footbrake on until I'm certain the guy coming from behind is going to stop, then I transfer to handbrake. He's less likely to hit me and if he does I've got brakes on 4 wheels instead of two. I don't run the handbrake up the ratchet either.

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

 

[owas]

I dont have long arms so i have to bend down to use the defenders hand brake,
Id rather not

Im pretty sure the lights arn't dazzling anyone though

 

[Migmac]

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.

 

[tlovatt]

In a number of modern cars you can't really use the handbrake that easily, they are going electric and as manufactures view it as a parking brake the switch is well out of the way only to be used in the event you need to push the car etc as otherwise it automatically releases / engages.

My car has an auto brake hold, you flick the brake peddle and it holds the car until you drive off so I am always showing brake lights when stopped, but it is how the car is intended to be driven.