Applying hand brake, putting car into first sequence at traffic lights??

justified

In all of my lessons everytime I stopped at a junction i was instructed to 1) apply the handbrake and 2) put the car into first. Is this neccessary for the test?

Dawn Rider

It depends on the situation.

If you pull up to a junction and go through that routine when there's enough of a gap in traffic to pull out safely, you will probably be marked down as you're not keeping with the movement of traffic.

If at a junction you find that you're going to have to wait a few seconds or more, then you should use the hand-break.

starlit

Depends what situation you are in. Generally you really only need to pull the handbrake if you are likely to be waiting a while in traffic and on a hill, on a fall of ground or if you think you might be in a situation where the car might roll back like on a fall of ground at a roundabout.

Maybe before turning at a junction if there is a lot of traffic, you may need to wait for a clear gap to move out. You may need to pull the handbrake up.

If you at traffic lights near a junction you might need to use the handbrake depending how far in line in traffic you are and how long or amount of traffic there is.

The most obvious time to use the handbrake is when on a hill, at a junction with a hill, a hill that might have a stop sign/traffic lights, moving in slow traffic if there is a hill/fall of ground through town or village.

In normal driving when at a junction or roundabout and going through town or at lights you generally don't need to use the handbrake as frequently but all depends on the situation you are in and if you are in one of the situations mentioned above that is when you be most likely to use the handbrake.

In general movement of traffic you don't need to use the handbrake unless you be stopping for long periods of time if the traffic is moving gradually and not stopping and starting over long periods you be good to go just hold in the clutch, brake and get ready to accelerate.

If on a hill or fall of ground when moving through slow traffic if not moving much or moving some bit with short periods, then yes use the handbrake. If the traffic is moving and no fall of ground then you be ok you don't need to use the handbrake but if there is a long line of traffic that isn't moving much and you likely to be waiting more than 30 seconds to a minute or more in traffic that's not moving or not moving much then pull up the handbrake.

If you aren't far from the traffic lights like first, second or third car in line you may or may not need to use your handbrake unless lights are very very slow.
If traffic lights are slow you likely to be waiting a while pull up the handbrake otherwise hold in your clutch and brake and get ready to accelerate.
If you a good bit in line from the lights definitely pull up the handbrake!

Hope this helps!