To use the handbrake ?

[PapitoSpice]

Inspired by another thread but without wishing to hijack it, do you (or did you) use your handbrake parking and at traffic lights?

(Admittedly with modern cars and auto-hold, this has become less of a thing).

I was taught to use the handbrake when parking and at traffic lights, if I was going to be longer then, I don’t know, say 30 seconds. It’s ingrained so I do it on the flat as well as on hills.

DH and his family (who are from East Anglia - not sure if it’s linked to the topography) don’t do it.

AIBU to regularly use the handbrake?

I once failed a driving test (one of many ) for not applying the handbrake at traffic lights!

People don't put the handbrake on when they've parked? I don't get that at all.

In a manual I'd probably just use clutch control on a hill but if it was going to be a while, like the lights had just turned red, I'd stick the handbrake on for ease. In my lovely automatic, no need for that.

I recently passed my drivers and not once was I told to apply the handbrake at traffic lights, only when parking, on a hill or at a stop sign.

Oh, I got this all wrong. I got it into my head that we were talking about traffic lights on a hill. 🤦‍♀️ I'm going ping for a nap.

I don’t use the handbrake if just pulled up at lights. If I got shunted with my foot on the break surely my car would just stall? Never really thought about that before though.

I was taught to use it every time I stopped and did religiously for years, especially at night so as not to have my brake lights searing the eyeballs of the person behind... but then I got a hybrid which shuts off the engine when I'm at a stop with my food on the brake. If I take my foot off to after putting the handbrake on, the engine switches on so I don't use it anymore unless actually parking.

If you get hit with your foot on the brake the car wouldn’t stall - this can occur if you accelerate and brake at the same time

Your engine isn’t trying to drive forwards, it’s the force from whoever has hit you

You may manage to hold the brake, but you would be jerked which is more likely to lift your foot or slip it
If you are firmly holding the brake down then that may be enough to hold it - in which case you are exerting unnecessary force which your hand brake could hand managed for you without effort

If you are shunted into the vehicle in front then you may have a ‘lesser’ impact from the vehicle behind, but you then have two crashes - you are hit from behind then you hit what’s in front —- and along the way your body is being shaken back and forth with different impacts

I use the handbrake in my manual car, not in the automatic.

My auto has a hold feature that holds the footbrake on so you can still relax your feet but not have to apply/release the handbrake.

The size of force on your car when hit from behind is determined by the speed and weight of the a vehicle hitting you. This force doesn't change much regardless handbrake - you are going to be shunted forwards. But the handbrake has significant impact on what happens next.

The force from being hit causes your car to accelerate forwards. With a handbrake on, there is much higher friction so the acceleration is lower, and that same high friction will cause you to come to a stop sooner (which reduces the risk of you hitting the car or pedestrians in front of you).

Putting a handbrake on is safer for you, your car and those around you. That said, I don't use mine if I know the lights are about the change.

Yes since becoming an advanced driver I do use the handbrake as you mention.

You're supposed to go into neutral and then handbrake to avoid wearing the clutch out and stop the car rolling or being pushed forward. New cars don't need it.

I don't use my handbrake when stopped at traffic lights. It would be irritating near where I live as we have a lot of traffic lights in our area.

Highway Code: In stationary queues of traffic, drivers should apply the parking brake and, once the following traffic has stopped, take their foot off the footbrake to deactivate the vehicle brake lights.
This will minimise glare to road users behind until the traffic moves again.

No in the European standard Crash Safety tests when the handbrake is not applied and you are rear ended then you do flying into the car infront causing injury all over the body. If it’s applied you will get away with whiplash.

Also, on a more mercenary level, I'd prefer not to have an insurance claim against me because I'd not had handbrake on and had consequently damaged car in front.

I do it for exactly the same reasons. Mostly for the shunting.

I used to when I had a manual with a normal handbrake you had to pull up. It's how I was taught and that was reinforced after seeing lots of traffic accidents when I was a police officer. It was second nature.

But 5 years ago we got an automatic with a little flick switch for the hand brake and auto-hold and I don't do it any more. Feel much less in tune with the car when driving and snobbishly look down on it - in large part because of the brake!

Learnt in Norfolk and was taught to put on handbrake...

All the time. Loads of traffic lights and traffic queues on my drive to work (outer London). Nice test for the legs! My mini has a heavy break so my legs would be aching after a few minutes!

Also much safer

@AffIt I can’t say for Florence, but yes - it’s true in Italy. I’ve watched people do it in Rome!

I do. Prefer to relax my foot and leg where I can. Handbrake on, in neutral at any traffic light where I know it's a longish one.

I wish this thread had two votes!
I do both but can get my head round people who don’t on hills.
But I want separate stats on parking because I’m really surprised people are saying they don’t!

I get really stressed when I'm behind someone at lights on an incline who clearly hasn't and rolls back slightly before they move forward. I never feel sure if I should blow my horn or not.