Keeping hand on handbrake

Rainislove

Hi, I am frustrated with a bad habit of keeping hand on hand brake while waiting in a T-Jn or tound about after putting fisrt gear. Though I am trying hard to change it, so far not succeed. Is this going to give any grade during my test? I am perfecyly keeping my hands on the steering while while the car is moving

hasdanta

Unless you're stopped for more than 7 seconds at the T-junction waiting to pull out, then no, you should not have have your hand on the handbrake.

Alanstrainor

I should preface his by saying that I'm not an instructor, so I can't be certain.

It depends on how you're using the handbrake, and whether this is impacting on your progress. If you are stopped, first in the queue at a T junction, and waiting for a gap in traffic then there is nothing stopping you using the handbrake to hold the car. And provided you were in 1st gear and ready to proceed, then there wouldn't be an issue having your hand on the handbrake being ready to release it. All of this is provided you were able to move off quickly and safely. If this process is slowing you down then it is possible you will get marks against you for progress.

When I learned to drive (I passed 11 or 12 years ago now), I used the above process without fault. In fact, using this process resulted in me not having to complete a hill start at all, as I had shown a similar hill start procedure at a couple of junctions.

OP, I would discuss this with your instructor. If they deem it to be wrong, or something you need to change then you should absolutely take their advice.

Zulu

Put a load of vasaline on the handle of the handbrake.
That'll break the habit fairly smartish.

Urindanger

With regards to having your hand on the handbrake while waiting, that's just pure sloppiness and a bad habit that you need to fix. The exception is if you're first in the queue. The process of letting up the clutch, upping the revs with the accelerator and releasing the handbrake should be a quick, almost simultaneous process. You don't have your foot revving the accelerator while stopped in a queue, or even have it hovering so why would you have your hand on the handbrake. Practice makes perfect. I found the hill starts a great way of helping me with quick and smooth clutch control and handbrake control.

My instructor said only use the handbrake on an incline or if you're going to be stopped for ages so as to give your foot a little rest. He said a lot of testers can do you for progress and controls by using the handbrake all the time. He said it's very easy to rack up 4 grade 2's if you constantly do it. Obviously that depends on your area and your tester. He said in other places testers like to see the handbrake used. Luck of the draw I guess, but you should obviously be talking to your instructor about this sort of stuff.

FWIW I think it would be extremely rare for me to use the handbrake at a roundabout, and the same with a t-junction, unless on an incline.

I wouldn't use the handbrake at a T junction or roundabout where I'm waiting for a gap in traffic but if stopped at lights I would use it, and my instructor has told me to do so. I also keep one hand on the handbrake and my instructor has never told me not to (pretty sure he told me to in the first place...).