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Handbrake first gear or handbrake neutral?

  • 10-05-2010 7:03pm
    #1
    aisling.laura
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 187 ✭✭


    When stopping at traffic lights or a stop sign or junction etc., should you put up the handbrake and put the car into first or into neutral?

    I failed my first test (nothing to do with this) and I had always been told by my instructor to put the car into first gear.

    But my friend has been taught by her instructor to put the car into neutral when stopped.

    Then I asked my boyfriend what did he do (he passed his test last year) and he said he was taught that it was a judgement call depending on where you are in the queue at traffic lights etc.

    So it seems that different instructors have different methods and i was just wondering which is right?
    I'm still waiting on my test date so won't be booking pretests until then so don't have an instructor to ask.

    Hope someone can help :)


Comments

  • #2
    Leonard Hofstadter
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,541 ✭✭✭Leonard Hofstadter


    Your bf is right.

    1st or 2nd from the lights - 1st gear, clutch fully depressed and handbrake on.

    Anything further back, put on the hand brake and put it in neutral.

    The idea is that by the time you've put it in gear once the lights go green, the 1st and 2nd cars will have moved forward enough for you to pull away straight away.

    If you're 1st or 2nd from the lights and have it in 1st you can pull away straight away and not hold anyone up.


  • #3
    DriveSkill
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 757 ✭✭✭DriveSkill


    Yes, your boyfriend is correct.

    Either is actually acceptable from a test point of view - you can leave it in neutral or leave it in 1st while stopped with the handbrake on. The main reason that instructors recommend that you wait in 1st gear when at the top of the queue is so you can move off pretty quickly when the lights change. There is a danger that you will be penalised for 'progress' if you dont move off quickly enough when the lights change so being in 1st gear and ready to move means there is one less thing to do.

    However, its not a hard a fast rule so if you can anticipate the lights or make a nice quick change into first and move off that is perfectly fine too. Generally if you are stopped for any length of time it is more comfortable to stay in neutral and give you left leg a rest off the clutch!


  • #4
    aisling.laura
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 187 ✭✭aisling.laura


    great that clears that up nicely, thanks guys :)


  • #5
    **Timbuk2**
    Moderators, Education Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 7,396 Mod ✭✭✭✭**Timbuk2**


    Your boyfriend is correct. If you have plenty of warning that the lights will go green, then you can wait in 1st gear. Examples are when you are a good bit back in a queue, or you can see the lights of the traffic going in the other direction (when they go amber, you can then move into 1st gear as the lights will probably go green for you in a few seconds).

    It also depends on the car. When I drive my mothers car, it's quite tiring on your left leg to keep the clutch depressed fully. In my dad's car, it isn't tiring at all (the pedal is much looser) so I usually just keep it in 1st gear. In general though, it's more comfortable to put it in neutral.

    You mentioned in your post about stop signs. At stop signs don't put it into neutral. Stop fully, but have it in 1st gear and ready to go, as you often only spend a few seconds at a stop sign, and you don't want to waste time having to select 1st gear when a gap appears.


  • #6
    leahyl
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,357 ✭✭✭✭leahyl


    If i'm in a queue of traffic i never have the handbrake on - just the foot brake - would i fail if i did this in the test? Obviously on a hill i would but never on the flat....

    I'm a bit confused as to what's acceptable and what's not - i would have the car in neutral and foot on the foot brake if i was a few cars back but if i was first or second in line then first gear and foot on foot brake...


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  • #7
    Alanstrainor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,157 ✭✭✭✭Alanstrainor


    leahyl wrote: »
    If i'm in a queue of traffic i never have the handbrake on - just the foot brake - would i fail if i did this in the test? Obviously on a hill i would but never on the flat....

    I'm a bit confused as to what's acceptable and what's not - i would have the car in neutral and foot on the foot brake if i was a few cars back but if i was first or second in line then first gear and foot on foot brake...

    You wouldn't fail. But i would think it would be a lot better to just put on the hand brake instead of sitting on the brake. It gives you a chance to rest.


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