Auto hold

blingrhino

Hi my daughter will be doing her test soon in her vw golf .

How does she approach the test with this feature - completely turn it off and go the old school way ,although not as easy as you would imagine as the auto hold will engage

when she pushes the handbrake button.

Any suggestions welcome.

hoodie6029

It says nothing on the RSA site about it, strangely. It’s a pretty common feature in cars now, so I’m surprised it isn’t covered.

I know for reverse around the corner that the tester will ask you to turn off your parking sensors and to not look at the reversing camera either. Again, that’s not on their website.

What has her instructor said?

Cars are becoming progressively more automated as standard kit. They are all safety features. It would seem crazy to be asked to turn off these features for a test. My own hybrid car has features on all the time, you can’t turn them off. It’s almost, but not quite as if you would be required to turn off headlights lights to do a night driving test 😂 I think the RSA don’t quite know how to respond to rapidly advancing motoring technology and are not providing any definitive guide for learners & instructors.

db

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119811547#Comment_119811547

This is not true - I have had three of my children do the test in my car with all of these features enabled plus others and there have been no issues with using them. Their instructor has recommended not using the reversing camera to much but no problem glancing at it occasionally.

blingrhino

Surprisingly her instructor was nt 100% sure.

Instructors car has a manual handbrake and told her just use the handbrake anyway.

Really what im trying to find out is does auto hold qualify as the handbrake for the test .

For example if she is stopped at a red light in the instructors car she would have to engage the manual handbrake where as in her Golf

it applies automatically.

It does not have parking sensors or camera.

hoodie6029

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119811631#Comment_119811631

Just passing on my experience.

db

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119815310#Comment_119815310

My car is a Ford rather than VW so the electronic handbrake might work a bit differently. The auto hold is only to hold the car when stopping momentarily on a hill like when pulling out at a T junction or in traffic. I would still use the handbrake at a red light but it releases automatically when you move off. The driving instructors car also has electronic handbrake and this is the way he teaches to use it.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119815310#Comment_119815310

In all reason how could a tester justify not passing somebody because their car’s handbrake system is automatic, or perhaps there are new endorsements I’m not familiar with - apart, that is, from the one where you are licensed for automatic vehicles and not manual gear/clutch transmission if you pass your test in one. Automation is an increasing trend in motoring and usually enhances safety.

GTTDI GOD

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119815310#Comment_119815310

At traffic lights, it is best practice to use the handbrake as, among other reasons, it puts off the brake lights, which can dazzle drivers behind. The autohold feature leaves the brake lights on. Autohold is fine at junctions unless you will be there for an extended period (>5 seconds)

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119820291#Comment_119820291

I wouldn’t agree with this notion of dazzling drivers behind at all, once it’s not fog lights. And in very bad weather you can’t be visible enough when stopped. Many modern cars don’t have any form of handbrake at all. My Toyota CH-R Hybrid has a gas pedal, a brake, a steering while, and drive, reverse, neutral & parking auto selectors. My bright lights come on automatically according to ambient lighting, so much is automated. I must be dazzling half of Dublin 🙂

GTTDI GOD

Toyota Hybrids certainly do have handbrakes, in my own Yaris Cross it is all automatic, so it releases when taken out of P and applied when back into P. There is also the (P) switch, so you can apply it when not in P, like when stopped in traffic or at lights. It comes off automatically when the accelerator is pressed then.

MoxoM

There is no issue using auto hold or even glancing at the reverse camera during your test

get_test_ready

The use of the auto handbrake is acceptable. As long as the car does not roll backwards. Generally I'd suggest using it whenever you will be stopped for more than a few seconds or whenever there is a possibility of rolling back (the camber of the road during the technical manoeuvres for example).

You can use reversing cameras BUT ONLY as an additional aid. An occassional glance is fine but no more than that. You must demonstrate the manoeuver in the same way as if you didn't have them. Basically you have to do a lot of looking around to spot all manner of dangers. Most people spend too much time looking at the display and stop looking around the car.