Do you apply the handbrake waiting at lights?

[alexp36]

Stupid question really.
But I've noticed lately, sitting at lights EVERY car sits there with their brake lights on. Even when it's a big intersection, long phase on the lights, and it's only just gone red.
So... everyone is sitting there for minutes at a time with their foot on the brake.

I habitually put on the handbrake, and take my foot off the brake when I know it's going to be more than just a few seconds. Am I the only one? Anyone else notice this?

[alex2_s]

handbrake it is for me.

[Verynice]

Don't forget that half (if not more) cars are Automatic so its just easier to keep the foot on the brake.

[danja]

I drive a manual, rarely use the handbrake. It's more effort to put it on/off than to rest my foot on the brake, which is usually all the effort it takes to keep the car still. It also means the rear lights are on, helps people see you.

Even for hill starts I don't use the handbrake - the flywheel weighs a ton (hard to stall) and I know the clutch well enough that it's easy to quickly find the right friction point to stop the car rolling back at all.

[GLITRES]

verynice hit the nail on the head with his comment.
I used the handbrake in my old car (now sold) but in my calais, its auto and alot easier to just use my foot

[Snap-on]

In that instance i click it into neutral but keep the brake on.(auto)

[alexp36]

Yeah, I know what you guys are saying. I can hill start a manual without the handbrake too, although using the handbrake is more correct for a number of reasons.
But, if you start using the handbrake at lights, you might find it is actually easier than holding the brake the whole time. Reason being is you can take your foot off the brake and rest it on the floor.
Also, you can actually move off more quickly (believe it or not) coming off the handbrake. Reason being, you don't have to move your foot from the brake to the gas, when you know you are about to move off, you can just sit with hand on handbrake, holding the button, and foot over gas pedal. The only thing that's quicker is left foot braking (which I also got used to doing years ago when I had a slightly clapped-out HQ which wouldn't idle, and had no handbrake, so I had to left foot brake, and keep it revving with the right foot).

[CANYONERO]

i rest my foot on the brake (manual) mainly because of visibility. i want ppl behind me to see im stopped.

Dosent work all the time i was at a maccas drive though took my foot off the brake to find my throttle and clutch and got hit from behind ( the driver behind forgot i was in a manual and it dosent creep forward) wont mention any names *cough* ashbox *cough* lol.

[jakbob]

Never bothered much with the handbrake when my car was auto. Now I've converted to a manual, I find at flat intersections resting my foot on the brake pedal works fine, but on a slope(sloping up towards the intersection) I have to use the handbrake for the hill start because I'm still running 2.78 diff gears which are really way too tall for the manual box and its really easy to stall.

[somefool]

hey guys is it worth throwing it into park at the lights?
eg long stops at busy intersections.
The Vn tends to resonate and vibrate the whole car when its in D and my foot on brake, so putting it into Park seems to cut out the resonating -
- id assume its because when in D the transmission is trying to make the car idle forward but the brakes are not allowing it to, so putting it into P means that the engine can idle freely and easily..
yes/no/opinions?
thanks guys

-only cos it looks funny haha

[ClairBear]

I thought the handbrake was used to execute sharp turns.

[jakbob]

I thought the handbrake was used to execute sharp turns.

Its a multi talented device.

[danja]

Yeah, I know what you guys are saying. I can hill start a manual without the handbrake too, although using the handbrake is more correct for a number of reasons.
But, if you start using the handbrake at lights, you might find it is actually easier than holding the brake the whole time. Reason being is you can take your foot off the brake and rest it on the floor.

I've never found using the foot brake to be difficult to begin with

As for the handbrake being more "correct", this is only true if you need it to stop the car rolling backwards.

Also, you can actually move off more quickly (believe it or not) coming off the handbrake. Reason being, you don't have to move your foot from the brake to the gas, when you know you are about to move off, you can just sit with hand on handbrake, holding the button, and foot over gas pedal. The only thing that's quicker is left foot braking (which I also got used to doing years ago when I had a slightly clapped-out HQ which wouldn't idle, and had no handbrake, so I had to left foot brake, and keep it revving with the right foot).

Are we talking about on the street, or World Rally Championship heats?

[Reaper]

brake pedal for me. Don't think I have actually ever used the handbrake in this car.

Reaper

[WogBoyz]

in my auto i put it in neutral, if i start rolling i use the handbrake otherwise dont bother

[calais24/7]

I do if im going to roll anywhere. Manual, and major hill starts

[jakbob]

brake pedal for me. Don't think I have actually ever used the handbrake in this car.

Reaper

Might wanna change that, or you might find it'll disappear down a hill one day. Heard some horror stories about steep driveways, people getting killed by their own cars when it rolls down the drive and crushes them as they open the garage door.

[STEALTHY™]

Never use the handbrake when driving.

Only ever use the brakes if its on a hill, but if its a short light change sequence, i just use the clutch to keep the car still. Always have my lights on, so people can always see it (in reference to danja's comment).

[jakbob]

Double Post dammit

[melissasd]

I just put my foot on the brake now that I drive an auto, I use my left foot on the brake. Got into this habit as I found there are alot of wanks around Perth who like pulling out in front of you, so there for I can keep my left foot hovering over the break when I know I might need it... ; round abouts and car parks.

In my old manual I used to just put it in neutral if it wasnt going to roll anywhere. Even if on a slight hill I put the hand brake on because I have seen quite a few cars now, mainly older models turn over and roll down hills, usually slowly, but still lol.

[Kikki]

Darn Perth drivers no idea!

I use the handbrake, only coz that's the way they do it when your tested and yeah I go for my manual license in 3 weeks :S

[fuzzy2308]

never use the handbrake coz it doesent work lol

[melissasd]

Lol i'm not joking, they're so ignorant i've found since living in north QLD and north WA.

I've had so many people pull out in front of me on the round about on Kalamunda road it's not funny, every single time I indicate when i'm on it and when I exit, but ya get that hey lol.

[danja]

Always have my lights on, so people can always see it (in reference to danja's comment).

Me too, but the brake lights are brighter than plain tail lights, especially if you're driving towards the setting sun.

[BXHD]

il put the handbrake on if the person behind me has already stopped and its a big intersection or if a train comes