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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

People who do handbrake-neutral at the lights are..

306 replies

Kanga59 · 19/09/2016 21:11

..annoying. AIBU?

Why can't you just put your foot on the foot brake like normal people. Tsk

OP posts:
toolonglurking · 19/09/2016 21:15

People who do handbrake-neutral at the lights are most likely doing as they were taught by their driving instructor, as I was, about 6 years ago.

ineedamoreadultieradult · 19/09/2016 21:15

Because sometime you want to give your feet a little wiggle and a rest from pressing pedals. People who stop miles away from the car in front then spend the whole time the lights on red slowly creeping up to the car in front are annoying.

Walkacrossthesand · 19/09/2016 21:16

If you know the light sequence, and you just miss going through, it's easier on your left leg (and your clutch mechanism) if you select neutral. Just saying.

Fromsqualorwithlove · 19/09/2016 21:16

People who sit on their brakes so that the brake lights cause glare to those behind them are annoying.

Can you tell I use my handbrake Grin

wowfudge · 19/09/2016 21:16

Aren't you supposed to stay in gear, but put the handbrake on? My mother does the handbrake neutral thing - I think it is what she was taught. She isn't slow to pull away, but it does seem like an unnecessary extra step.

Bearfrills · 19/09/2016 21:16

Currently learning to drive and my instructor teaches handbrake-neutral if we're stopping at the lights, if we get there just as they're changing back to green then it's gently on the footbrake and go as soon as they finish changing.

SciFiFan2015 · 19/09/2016 21:17

Handbrake on, gear selected ready to go ASAP according to my instructor 20 years ago.

Babyroobs · 19/09/2016 21:17

YABU .You are meant to put your handbrake on when you stop. My colleugue and her dd were knocked down on a zebra crossing by a car which was shunted from behind by another car. If the car which hit them had had their handbrake on it would not have happened. As it was she sustained serious head injuries and her dd was lucky to escape unscathed.

StatisticallyChallenged · 19/09/2016 21:17

If you have a stop start engine which needs to be in neutral to stop...

Believeitornot · 19/09/2016 21:17

Yabu. It's not a formula one race. If you know you'll be waiting a while especially at a junction, why not do it proper like Grin

NicknameUsed · 19/09/2016 21:18

What do you mean by handbrake neutral?

Putting the hand brake on? This is how I was taught to drive. I get the using the foot brake if you are last in the queue so that it warns cars behind you that you have stopped. But if there are cars behind you in the queue and you are stopped for a while why wouldn't you use a handbrake, especially if you are pointing uphill?

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 19/09/2016 21:18

People who do handbrake-neutral at the lights are...
Perfectly reasonable and I don't really see it as a major issue, sorry.

PrincessHairyMclary · 19/09/2016 21:19

I'm learning to drive, not been told to put it in neutral but to put the handbrake on to prevent glare to those behind and is safer as your foot can't slip off the brake.

People who don't indicate on roundabouts are a pain especially as a learner

Bearfrills · 19/09/2016 21:19

I find it easier to prepare the car and pull away when I've used the handbrake than I do when I've used the footbrake.

ninnypoo · 19/09/2016 21:19

I only handbrake/neutral when I'm bored of waiting as I can guarantee the second I take my feet of the pedals, the lights will change Grin

Kleptronic · 19/09/2016 21:19

Yes handbrake on, gears in neutral, this is for safety in case someone shunts you from behind. If you're in first you'll go off like a rocket. That is what I was taught.

TheViewFromTheSheepSeats · 19/09/2016 21:20

For some reason I use handbrake + foot brake + in gear + foot on clutch- definitely not how I was taught!

FullTimeYummy · 19/09/2016 21:20

Maybe they understand how a car works and how to avoiding needlessly wearing expensive to replace clutch components?

Sistedtwister · 19/09/2016 21:21

I have to stop and start so often it's nice to have a rest now and again. I have a prosthetic left hip and arthritis so get achy.

Why is it annoying? Even if I was a bit slow away ( I'm not) it holds you up for what? About 5.seconds?

ThisAintALoveSong · 19/09/2016 21:21

The handbrake - neutral thing is a saftey measure to stop the car rolling or being shunted.

Secondly, Why would you make the hydraulics of your foot brake do all the work when it doesn't need to? It's inefficient for one.

People who 'roll' on their clutch at traffic lights.... Now they really grind my gears!!

MrsMook · 19/09/2016 21:21

I was taught to do it if stopping for more than 30 seconds. If you're watching the lights carefully, the reaction to get back into first and begin moving shouldn't cause delay to other motorists. I don't do it as routine every time, but it is better for hill starts and prolonged delays. It is safer in the event of being shunted from behind over holding on bite point or the brake.

PoloZolo · 19/09/2016 21:21

If a car bumps into you from behind and you then crash into another car in front it'll be your insurance that has to pay out as well as the person who crashed into you, therefore YABU

Bearfrills · 19/09/2016 21:21

People who don't indicate on roundabouts are a pain especially as a learner

Yes! And people who follow right up your fucking arse even though you're going the speed limit.

TheProblemOfSusan · 19/09/2016 21:21

I'm doing refresher lessons at the moment and handbrake neutral is how you're supposed to do it according to my instructor - just like it was 15 years ago when I learnt, for the safety reasons outlined above.

Mrsmorton · 19/09/2016 21:22

And people who blind you with their brake lights are really fucking annoying. Handbrake, neutral is safer, better for your car and generally the right thing to do.

You planning a rewrite of the Highway Code OP?