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Original poster

Please answer this question about driving for me before my lesson

25 replies

Rosehiptea · 30/08/2023 12:23

Hello!
I have a driving lesson today and am reading my notes to prepare. However, I am confused about one thing. If I ask my teacher, he'll get annoyed that I don't remember. (I know, I know...)

It's about hill starts.
I have written the following
-To do a hill start, have the handbrake on.

Clutch to floor and get into 1st.

-Push gas gently as you bring clutch to bite.

Release handbrake, and simultaneously push gas and lift clutch.

This is my confusion :
In his car, to release the handbrake you have to push on the brake pedal and press the handbrake button/lever.
How can I push on the brake to do this if I am holding the bite and pressing the gas?

OP posts:

dubyalass · 30/08/2023 12:29

Does it have a button handbrake rather than the old style lever handbrake?

Whenever I've driven cars with button handbrakes, a hill start just involved finding the bite point (with the handbrake on), so adjusting each foot on the clutch and accelerator until it feels like the car wants to move off, and the handbrake would automatically release. With a lever handbrake you'd have to do the same but lower the lever once you reach the bite point.

Does that make sense?

dubyalass · 30/08/2023 12:30

I've never had to put my foot on the brake pedal to release the handbrake. Otherwise how would you ever drive off?

Original poster

Rosehiptea · 30/08/2023 12:31

It's a button handbrake, not a physical lever.
To release it, you push the brake pedal and push the handbrake button

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Driving & parking

Original poster

Rosehiptea · 30/08/2023 12:37

You can automatically release the handbrake, with the gas and clutch, however this often doesn't work so I usually do it manually by pressing the brake and pressing handbrake button

OP posts:

Soverymuchfruit · 30/08/2023 12:38

I've driven a couple of very different cars with button handbrakes. On neither did you have to push the brake pedal to release the handbrake. However, it would often be a good idea to do so, so you don't roll off. So are you sure that you haven't confused his general "rule" for how to take off the handbrake, with how it physically works?

dubyalass · 30/08/2023 12:38

That would mean you would have to quickly move your foot from the brake pedal to the accelerator to move off, which is potentially dangerous on a hill and quite possibly against the Highway Code! What model of car is it? I've driven lots of Vauxhalls with button handbrakes and it's never necessary to use the brake pedal when releasing the handbrake.

Let us know the model and perhaps someone else who has that car can advise.

Wiii · 30/08/2023 12:39

You need to change instructor if he's getting cross. He's there to help you.

dubyalass · 30/08/2023 12:39

Rosehiptea · 30/08/2023 12:37

You can automatically release the handbrake, with the gas and clutch, however this often doesn't work so I usually do it manually by pressing the brake and pressing handbrake button

That sounds like a problem with the car, not you!

JuneBeWonderful · 30/08/2023 12:39

What car is it? Also shit instructor if they have a pop at you for not remembering stuff. You should be able to just press the button to release without needing your foot on the brake or if the car feel like there is enough gas and bite to go it will automatically release the handbrake.

You need to hold the clutch just beyond bite for a couple of seconds so that the car moves off but you don't pull your foot off the clutch immediately so that it doesn't stall.

Lots of very helpful videos on Youtube, especially Conquer Driving where Richard teaches you this sort of thing.

JuneBeWonderful · 30/08/2023 12:40

Rosehiptea · 30/08/2023 12:37

You can automatically release the handbrake, with the gas and clutch, however this often doesn't work so I usually do it manually by pressing the brake and pressing handbrake button

it will work, just on different angles ie hill you need more bite and more gas. You can do this, you just have a shit instructor.

Soverymuchfruit · 30/08/2023 12:41

In any case: there's clearly a confusion, and if you're right then it's different from any other car, so you're going to have to ask him, and discuss how you would do it in a normal car. If he genuinely is annoyed at you asking a perfectly sensible question: I have found the AA to be a good source of great driving teachers available at reasonably short notice.

HelpMeGetThrough · 30/08/2023 12:47

So has a park brake instead of hand brake? If so, you shouldn't need to touch the button to pull off, you should just pull off and it will disengaged.

Two things could be happening, 1) there is an issue with the car or 2) you are pulling off too slowly (e.g slow in syncing clutch and throttle to get car moving) and it's not disengaging.

On my last three cars, if you pull off too slowly, the brake holds.

Original poster

Rosehiptea · 30/08/2023 12:52

Thanks all! Haven't had a chance to read all the replies yet but will do so now.
It's a Nissan Juke 2021

OP posts:

Original poster

Rosehiptea · 30/08/2023 13:03

Searching online, I can confirm that in this car, one way of releasing the handbrake is by pressing the footbrake then the handbrake button (see screenshot from a forum on this car). I think people normally do it the other way, however this often doesn't work on this particular car for some reason

Please answer this question about driving for me before my lesson

OP posts:

WrigglyDonCat · 30/08/2023 13:04

Several things to think about (with my ADI hat on).

As others have said, just getting to the biting point with the clutch should be enough to release the handbrake automatically with that sort of car. BUT... the stupid brake mechanism in all the ones like this I have driven are too slow to release, so if you try and move too quickly you will add too much load onto the engine before the brake releases and you will stall. A manual handbrake is so much better, but that's another thread altogether.

Most importantly though - why are you thinking about hill starts as something special? They aren't. All starts in a manual (except when facing downhill, when there are options, but a normal start will still work fine) should be the same - there's nothing special about a hill start. Each and every time you have stopped long enough to get the handbrake on, you should find the bite so that the front of the car rises slightly, then release the handbrake (through whatever mechanism) or allow it to release automatically where available.

Annoys the crap out of me when instructors build it up as something special. Just makes people nervous of hills when they should just be doing the same as they do on the flat.

Second thing to have in your mind is that your gas/clutch sequencing needs a little change. You seem to have been taught to simultaneously add gas and raise the clutch (many people are), but this isn't quite ideal and can easily lead to a stalling problem.

Always, always, always lead with the gas. So add a little gas, then move clutch to the bite. Release the parking brake. Now being to gently add more gas. As you hear the engine accelerating, slowly start to raise the clutch.

The reason is that bringing the clutch up through the biting point is adding load to the engine. That slows the engine down as it's working harder. If it slows too much you will stall. So always, always, always speed the engine up first before adding load to the engine. That way, you should find it almost impossible to stall.

Good luck with the lesson...

Trenchfootinthescottishhighlandstoday · 30/08/2023 13:08

Ime you don't release you just drive forward..
*Discovered after attempting to release on a hill and rolling back into White Van Man.
Predictably fumed!

Cheeesus · 30/08/2023 13:11

I’d say push or pull the button if it doesn’t release when you try and drive off

HelpMeGetThrough · 30/08/2023 14:31

Searching online, I can confirm that in this car, one way of releasing the handbrake is by pressing the footbrake then the handbrake button

You have to do that on mine for manual release of the park brake, but I never bother, as pulling off with the brake engaged is enough.

FeigningConcern · 30/08/2023 14:49

I would be less concerned about how to do a hill start and more concerned that your instructor gets annoyed with you, making you too worried to ask questions. That's not ok and will inhibit your learning and make you nervous. You need to find a another instructor.

SkaneTos · 31/08/2023 11:09

Wiii · 30/08/2023 12:39

You need to change instructor if he's getting cross. He's there to help you.

I agree with this. I had a really grumpy instructor when I was learning to drive, and it was no fun!
When I passed my driving test it was a relief, obviously I was happy to get my driving license, but it was also a relief to not have to meet the instructor again.
It's not a good feeling to have a driving instructor who gets annoyed with you for asking questions.

Papillon23 · 31/08/2023 11:15

Unhelpful, but I've been driving for well over a decade, and have a car with a manual handbrake.

Went on holiday to Italy, hired a car and it insisted I needed to do this as well - the car kept flashing up a notice saying I had to press down the brake to release the parking brake. It reduced me to tears on a hill. I did eventually get going but I have no memory of how.

I never want to buy a car with an electric handbrake, it just seemed far more complicated.

ILoveWillSmith · 31/08/2023 11:20

My car has a button hand brake and you do have to have your foot on the brake to be able to release it. However the car has 'hill assist' which means you don't have to get 'the bite', it will hold it for a couple of seconds so you can move off. The last car I had was the same, I think its quite common now.

ForeverWinter · 31/08/2023 12:19

I have a nissan Juke 2021 and never press on the brake pedal to move off on a hill..

Obviously keep your foot on the brake whilst your stopped but once the light changes or the road is clear you just find the bite and press to accelerate.

They have autohold so once you take your foot off the break it'll hold you in place for about 30 seconds which is more than enough time to move off

CustardCreamm · 31/08/2023 14:12

I have a Qashquai and you do have to press the brake to release the button handbrake, but it has hill assist so it won't just roll back.

Original poster

Rosehiptea · 31/08/2023 19:18

CustardCreamm · 31/08/2023 14:12

I have a Qashquai and you do have to press the brake to release the button handbrake, but it has hill assist so it won't just roll back.

At what stage do you come off the gas to press the brake in order to release the handbrake, on a hill start? I'm just imagining myself pressing the gas as I lift the clutch, then moving my right foot to the brake to release the handbrake, then back to the gas again to move off...

OP posts:

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