When To use hand brake

ugglasdav

hi guys, recently started to drive for the first time ( 3 days ago) and my dad has been supervising me along the way, normally i have been using the hand brake when i stop in case of rolling etc. but i am still unsure on when it should be used, Must i stop and apply the hand brake at a yield sigh?

woodchuck

I'm curious about this too... I have a tendancy to use the handbreak too much, because the times when I try not to I don't realise that I'm on a slight incline and might start to roll slightly. So I think I'd rather take the extra couple of seconds to put the handbreak on and off to be sure rather than roll backwards, which is an instant fail? But can't you be marked down on the test for using it when it's not necessary too?

chin_grin

If you're a ways back in traffic then you can go in to neutral and apply the hand brake.

If you're at the front (near the junction) you can just keep it in first and your foot on the brake (especially if you're at a yield sign).

Also consider learning with an actual instructor rather than a family member, you'd pick up bad habits that you'd be marked against in a test that way.

Conor_M1990

When you want to make a quick 180 degree turn .

I really only use the handbrake when parking and when the lights take ages to change the rest of the time I use the footbrake and keep the car in gear but thats outta habit if your stopped for a long time in traffic its better to use the handbrake

Babooshka

My instructor tells me to use the handbreak when you have to park on an incline, and when you are stationery for a little longer than short stops, so if you are more than about 5 cars down in a line waiting for the lights to change. But, he says if you're on a flat surface that you are ok to use the footbreak and stay in first. I think you should also apply the handbreak when the tester tells you to pull over and stop...so, before beginning the turn in the road and reversing around the corner, and any time you are asked to pull in and stop...I think..Can anyone verify all of that?

ADIDriving

Take it that every road has a bit of a slope on it. One of many guidelines is that if you think you are going to be stopped for more then two seconds, put the handbrake on.

two wheels good

I don't agree with the general advice to keep the car in gear when stopped. It is not safe to do so and is not "mechanically sympathetic" i.e it wears the clutch release mechanism.

If you are expecting to move off put the car in gear; if you have to wait (any longer than ten seconds, I'd say) put it in neutral.

In reply to OP's question: Applying the handbrake at a yield sign is not to be recommended. However, if you have to wait a while to give way to a long line of traffic then applying the handbrake if fine

ProudDUB

ugglasdav wrote: »

Must i stop and apply the hand brake at a yield sigh?

It depends on how long you are going to be stopped for while you are yielding to other cars. An instructor told me anytime you are going to stopped for more than 2 seconds, apply the handbrake. If you are waiting for just one car to pass you by, there is no need to put it on. If there there is a steady stream of cars coming, and you are going to be there a while (or more than 2 seconds) apply your hand brake. That goes for all stopping situations, not just yield signs.

Also would suggest some professional input sooner rather than later. There are a lot of dear old dads out there who have taught their kids how to drive very well. But there are also lots of them who have passed on their bad habits to their kids. The longer you drive with those habits ingrained, the harder they will be to break.

arleitiss

I personally got in habit to use handbrake rarely.
When I use it: When I am facing downhill or up hill or when I am like 6th or above from traffic or when I stall I apply handbrake and at parking.
When I don't use it: when in traffic just flat, close to traffic lights, when I am like 20th in long traffic line but I have to move constantly as traffic proceeds, at yield or stop signs.

meathstevie

ugglasdav wrote: »

hi guys, recently started to drive for the first time ( 3 days ago) and my dad has been supervising me along the way, normally i have been using the hand brake when i stop in case of rolling etc. but i am still unsure on when it should be used, Must i stop and apply the hand brake at a yield sigh?

You've answered part of your own question, a yield or give way sign is exactly what it says it is. You need to give way to traffic allready on the road you are about to enter. It is not an imperative to stop as such, you're only required to stop if you have to do so to let traffic go by.

Imagine a scenario with a wide open junction with full visibilty for let's say a few hundred meters in all directions and there isn't another road user in sight ( a dual carriageway on a early weekend morning can often be like that) and you're going to enter the road preceded by a yield sign. The only slowing down you would have to do is slowing down to a safe cornering speed and proceed on your way.

I would even dare to argue that if you come to a full stop (unless traffic flow dictates a necessity to do so) and apply the handbrake at every yield sign you encounter during your test that there is a chance you will be marked down for making insufficient progress.

As a sideline, a little practicality when it comes to handbreak levers, most have a release button. Use it also to pull up the handbreak, not just to let it down. What I mean is release the button as you feel the tension on the lever mounting and you'll avoid the ugly crunching sound of the handbreak system wearing out every time you pull it up.

Personally I believe it to be a good rule of thumb that a handbreak will not be applied in the normal process of driving unless it is needed to move of on an incline (or other manouvring on an incline) and when held up for longer than the normal flow of traffic.