Explain to me about hand breaks and automatics

[mollyfolk]

Got an automatic car this week. Was still putting the (button) hand break on at traffic lights or stopped on a slight hill ect. Gave a lift to a friend yesterday and she told me the automatic won’t roll back in Drive “mode” . Today I tried just having my foot on the brake but was paranoid that the car seemed to roll back a little in the spilt second between holding the foot brake and touching the accelerator.

So how do you use your handbrake in an automatic?

I don’t use the handbrake in my auto at all. I’m told by my dd I should, but I’ve never felt the need.

I just keep my foot in the foot brake and don't use the hand brake unless I'm stopped for ages

You don’t. I’ve driven automatics for years now and never use the hand brake. Just use the brake pedal. It may roll slightly but will hold.

It’s definitely an adjustment though, I feel the same way when I occasionally rent a manual car, I use the hand brake a lot then…brings back memories of learning to do hill starts. 😂

I always put mine on whenever I have to stop. Just habit. I think my driving instructor (manual) told me the handbrake stops the car shunting forward if someone hits you from behind whereas foot on brake doesn’t. No idea if that’s true or if it’s the same in an automatic!

I only ever use the handbrake when finally parked on my drive, in P mode.
I only ever use N if I’m sat at one set of traffic lights that I know take 3 mins to get back round to our side.

I haven’t got a hand break on mine.

This is true - my neighbours car got pushed into an intersection after getting hit from behind. I would still use the handbrake if I’m first in the queue at traffic lights. But I think I’m over using it now through complete ignorance at how automatics work!

I also only use my handbrake when I park up, never at traffic lights etc. The car doesn't roll.

What about parking? Is there some kind of an autobrake on it?

I have a button called auto beside the handbrake button but I’m not sure what it would do! I may have to read the manual.

Just realised, mine also doesn't have a handbrake! I just put it in P when I'm parking, never at lights.

So should you not use the handbrake in D then? I’ve been using it while still in D.

My automatic would start moving forwards, not backwards in drive mode if I lift my foot off the brake, as would the one I learned in. I have a "hold" mode which functions somewhat as a hand brake when you are stationary but I don't use it. I don't think my instructor's car did. I think what would be the handbrake mechanism in a manual only engages in the park gear in my car.

Mine has an auto hold, so when it’s in park it automatically puts the break on (EPB, electronic parking break). A auto should never roll back, only forward and only when in Drive and when you lift the break.

You really don’t need the hand break on at lights you are wasting your own time and energy! The only time I have used it is in extremely steep hill starts and that was probably more for my worry than reality. Automatic cars are awesome but you need to remember that it’s like the ultimate lazy version of driving (which is why I like it) and you really have to do very little.
Why not try it when you are stopped with no one behind you so it wouldn’t matter if you did roll a little and it will get your brain used to it

You never use the hand brake in an automatic.

It can't physically roll backwards if not in reverse or neutral.

The only situation where you'd use the handbrake just for extra safety purposes is if you're under the car working on it for some reason.

Just keep your foot on the brake when you're stopped in traffic, and take it off when the light goes green.

No, don't use it in drive. All you need is your foot on the brake.

You don't need it for parking either.

I've been driving automatics for 30 years. I use the handbrake when I've parked up but other than that only when the car will be stationary for some minutes such as stuck in traffic. Otherwise my foot would need to be engaging the brakes constantly and my brakes began to overheat once when I was in a motorway tailback.
My cars quite a hefty thing but if I release the foot brakes whilst it's in drive it immediately begins to crawl forward.

I always use it when I stop in traffic - to stop the car rolling forward if I was hit from behind - regardless where I am in the queue. Also means after dark the person behind me isn't subjected to bright brake lights.

I don't use mine either!
But I do have an aut ohold/ handbrake button... it's "on" and I have never experienced the slightly rolling backwards. I am in an very hilly area!

PS: our manual car also has the same magic button- no more tedious handbrake hill starts! They firmly belong to the past.

Just asked my DH if our automatic car has handbrake button and he said 'yes, it does' . Apparently, he uses it sometimes. I have been driving this car for over 2y now and I have no idea where the handbrake is 😬

Remember when stopped at traffic lights, keeping your foot on the brakes means those behind you have the bright brake lights in their eyes. Always better to use auto hold, or park/neutral The second reason for this, if someone was to drive into the back of you and your foot slipped, the car would go forward (unlike a manual when it would stall). The same could be said if for whatever reason your foot slipped of the foot brake.

I only use the hand brake for steep hill starts or parking on a slope. This is what I was told to do by my DH who was far more knowledgeable than I am about engineering. Sadly he's no longer here to ask why, but googling has provided some sort of answer.

Apparently there is a bit of metal (called a parking pawl) that engages in P and stops the transmission from working. So in P the car can't roll forward or backwards because the parking pawl is engaged. I suspect the slight movement you sometimes get when you put it in P is down to the car moving to a point where the parking pawl actually engages with something.

If you park on the flat then the weight of the car is fully supported by the wheels. However if you park on a slope then some of the weight is supported by the parking pawl. Although this isn't unsafe, it's not a good idea as it puts the parking pawl under stress it's not designed for. So it's a good idea to use the handbrake to take the strain.

This is gleaned from a quick Google so it could be complete rubbish for all I know, but it does sound logical to me 😄

It can't physically roll backwards if not in reverse or neutral.

That’s not strictly true, some autos will roll backwards when in drive if the hill is steep enough to overcome the creep.