Downside of using Hand brake while waiting ?
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OriginalGriff wrote:
In stationary queues of traffic, drivers should apply the parking brake and, once the following traffic has stopped, take their foot off the footbrake to deactivate the vehicle brake lights. This will minimise glare to road users behind until the traffic moves again. Law RVLR reg 27
Wow, Did not know it was supposed to be like this?
cheers,
Super
------------------------------------------ Too much of good is bad,mix some evil in it
If that blew your mind, wait until I tell you you're supposed to turn your fog lights off when cars are behind you too.
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I do that at draw bridges - you can get quite old waiting for them to finally return travel to the land vehicles. Actually, I shut the engine off, altogether. Just something I've done in the past: since we've owned nothing but standard transmissions for many years, we (myself and Mrs. Wife) are quite used to driving with both feet. For a time, however, when we had the kids at home, etc., we needed a vehicle with bench seats and ended up with an automatic transmission. I trained myself to drive that with both feet instead of one doing all the work - in anticipation of returning to standard transmissions. This might work for you, depending upon which leg is angry with you. In US (and most of the civilized world), the accelerator and break pedal is operated with the right foot and the left foot either works the clutch pedal or does nothing. Maybe you can adapt to other-foot breaking?
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein
"If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010
The first time I hired a car in the UK, I was afraid the pedals would also be inverted. Fortunately, no. I thought shifting with my left hand might be difficult, but again no. The main problem was looking the wrong way when entering traffic, so I almost wore out my neck double- and even triple-checking. :-D
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The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing.<p><a href="https://github.com/GregUtas/robust-services-core/blob/master/README.md">Robust Services Core</a>
<em>The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing.</em></p> -
That sort of wearing doesn't happen overnight. How often did you (or the garage mechanics) check the cables to ensure that they weren't worn?
Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows. -- 6079 Smith W.
Me? Never - I don't fit under the car or have a lift / inspection pit. Mechanics? In theory, twice a year - once for the MOT test, and once when it's serviced. But ... it can be next to impossible to see corrosion if it's inside the outer Bowden cable cover - only the two exposed ends are "inspectable" without desoldering the nipple.
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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OriginalGriff wrote:
In stationary queues of traffic, drivers should apply the parking brake and, once the following traffic has stopped, take their foot off the footbrake to deactivate the vehicle brake lights. This will minimise glare to road users behind until the traffic moves again. Law RVLR reg 27
Wow, Did not know it was supposed to be like this?
cheers,
Super
------------------------------------------ Too much of good is bad,mix some evil in it
There are also rules on the use of headlamp flashers which are the exact inverse of what they are actually used for in the real world. In theory - and you have to know this and demonstrate that on your driving test - you only use the headlight flashers to warn other drivers of your presence. In practice you flash others to say "come on through, I'll wait until you are past", or "get out of my way, I'm faster than you" :laugh:
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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So basically due to injury in one of my legs, I have to reduce the strain on my legs for a few weeks. Driving is not the issue but when in city and waiting for signals, I have to keep my legs on the brake to prevent the car from going forward or backward (neutral gear) due to inclinations and I do not want to keep pressing on the brake. So What I do it using my hand brake to keep the car still. Whats is the downside of it ?
cheers,
Super
------------------------------------------ Too much of good is bad,mix some evil in it
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I do that at draw bridges - you can get quite old waiting for them to finally return travel to the land vehicles. Actually, I shut the engine off, altogether. Just something I've done in the past: since we've owned nothing but standard transmissions for many years, we (myself and Mrs. Wife) are quite used to driving with both feet. For a time, however, when we had the kids at home, etc., we needed a vehicle with bench seats and ended up with an automatic transmission. I trained myself to drive that with both feet instead of one doing all the work - in anticipation of returning to standard transmissions. This might work for you, depending upon which leg is angry with you. In US (and most of the civilized world), the accelerator and break pedal is operated with the right foot and the left foot either works the clutch pedal or does nothing. Maybe you can adapt to other-foot breaking?
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein
"If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010
W∴ Balboos, GHB wrote:
This might work for you, depending upon which leg is angry with you. In US (and most of the civilized world), the accelerator and break pedal is operated with the right foot and the left foot either works the clutch pedal or does nothing. Maybe you can adapt to other-foot breaking?
After foot/ankle surgery on he right leg, my Mom had an adapter fitted to her (automatic) car to let her operate the gas/brake with her left foot. It was a pain to un/reinstall, so when I needed to move it around the driveway once I tried operating the car with it still in place. It was a massive brain :elephant:, I didn't cause an accident but having to actively think about every operation instead of relying on muscle memory slowed my operation down to a crawl. Depending on how long you're on the disabled list, wrong foot driving might be worth considering; but find an empty parking lot to practice in for a while first and avoid any high traffic/etc areas until you're feeling confident in what you're doing.
Did you ever see history portrayed as an old man with a wise brow and pulseless heart, weighing all things in the balance of reason? Is not rather the genius of history like an eternal, imploring maiden, full of fire, with a burning heart and flaming soul, humanly warm and humanly beautiful? --Zachris Topelius Training a telescope on one’s own belly button will only reveal lint. You like that? You go right on staring at it. I prefer looking at galaxies. -- Sarah Hoyt
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Me? Never - I don't fit under the car or have a lift / inspection pit. Mechanics? In theory, twice a year - once for the MOT test, and once when it's serviced. But ... it can be next to impossible to see corrosion if it's inside the outer Bowden cable cover - only the two exposed ends are "inspectable" without desoldering the nipple.
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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If that blew your mind, wait until I tell you you're supposed to turn your fog lights off when cars are behind you too.
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So basically due to injury in one of my legs, I have to reduce the strain on my legs for a few weeks. Driving is not the issue but when in city and waiting for signals, I have to keep my legs on the brake to prevent the car from going forward or backward (neutral gear) due to inclinations and I do not want to keep pressing on the brake. So What I do it using my hand brake to keep the car still. Whats is the downside of it ?
cheers,
Super
------------------------------------------ Too much of good is bad,mix some evil in it
I do not know, in France we do not wait for signals.
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The first time I hired a car in the UK, I was afraid the pedals would also be inverted. Fortunately, no. I thought shifting with my left hand might be difficult, but again no. The main problem was looking the wrong way when entering traffic, so I almost wore out my neck double- and even triple-checking. :-D
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The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing.For me, it was roundabouts in France - not only did I have to remember to go round the wrong way and exit at the wrong exit, but I had to struggle with " Priorité à droite" which meant that (on some roundabouts) you give way to traffic joining instead of traffic already going round.
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
"Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt -
So basically due to injury in one of my legs, I have to reduce the strain on my legs for a few weeks. Driving is not the issue but when in city and waiting for signals, I have to keep my legs on the brake to prevent the car from going forward or backward (neutral gear) due to inclinations and I do not want to keep pressing on the brake. So What I do it using my hand brake to keep the car still. Whats is the downside of it ?
cheers,
Super
------------------------------------------ Too much of good is bad,mix some evil in it
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For me, it was roundabouts in France - not only did I have to remember to go round the wrong way and exit at the wrong exit, but I had to struggle with " Priorité à droite" which meant that (on some roundabouts) you give way to traffic joining instead of traffic already going round.
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be classified as a super power" - Random T-shirt AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
There aren't many roundabouts on this side of the pond, but fortunately more are starting to show up.
Robust Services Core | Software Techniques for Lemmings | Articles
The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing. -
So basically due to injury in one of my legs, I have to reduce the strain on my legs for a few weeks. Driving is not the issue but when in city and waiting for signals, I have to keep my legs on the brake to prevent the car from going forward or backward (neutral gear) due to inclinations and I do not want to keep pressing on the brake. So What I do it using my hand brake to keep the car still. Whats is the downside of it ?
cheers,
Super
------------------------------------------ Too much of good is bad,mix some evil in it
not much. My Dad had polio when he was a kid. His left leg never was strong nor was his right leg all that. He always did this for 60+ years of driving. Nothing ever was wrong with the Emergency Brake. And yet he drove a stick shift most of those years. He would lift his leg with his left hand to place it on the clutch and then work around to get everything going. Never had any real issue.
To err is human to really mess up you need a computer
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So basically due to injury in one of my legs, I have to reduce the strain on my legs for a few weeks. Driving is not the issue but when in city and waiting for signals, I have to keep my legs on the brake to prevent the car from going forward or backward (neutral gear) due to inclinations and I do not want to keep pressing on the brake. So What I do it using my hand brake to keep the car still. Whats is the downside of it ?
cheers,
Super
------------------------------------------ Too much of good is bad,mix some evil in it
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Greg Utas wrote:
Assuming the hand brake controls a cable, it could eventually fail from overuse
You set the handbrake after every drive, and it stays set until the next drive. Given that most of us spend most of our time out of the car, I doubt the handbrake will fail because of a few extra pulls.
Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows. -- 6079 Smith W.
OTOH a lot of people don't use their handbrake, ever - especially those who drive an automatic transmission. The risk here is that unless it's regularly used, the handbrake cable will be seized/severely rusted, and it just might snap when you do try to use it. Or it'll stay applied when you try to take it off. My dad worked as a mechanic for over 4 decades, and his advice on that topic is, if you never use it, don't start out of the blue--for the reason stated above.
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So basically due to injury in one of my legs, I have to reduce the strain on my legs for a few weeks. Driving is not the issue but when in city and waiting for signals, I have to keep my legs on the brake to prevent the car from going forward or backward (neutral gear) due to inclinations and I do not want to keep pressing on the brake. So What I do it using my hand brake to keep the car still. Whats is the downside of it ?
cheers,
Super
------------------------------------------ Too much of good is bad,mix some evil in it
My "German" car recommends, when it is safe to do so, engaging the hand brake to slow the car every so often (and gave some reason I can't remember off-hand). It notes that your brake lights don't come on; so you have to still tap the brake if you want to show you're braking. The downside is forgetting to disengage it (I guess).
It was only in wine that he laid down no limit for himself, but he did not allow himself to be confused by it. ― Confucian Analects: Rules of Confucius about his food
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OTOH a lot of people don't use their handbrake, ever - especially those who drive an automatic transmission. The risk here is that unless it's regularly used, the handbrake cable will be seized/severely rusted, and it just might snap when you do try to use it. Or it'll stay applied when you try to take it off. My dad worked as a mechanic for over 4 decades, and his advice on that topic is, if you never use it, don't start out of the blue--for the reason stated above.
:confused: Don't you always set the hand brake when parking your car? In many countries, it's required by law, and it's always a good idea - especially if parking on a slope.
Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows. -- 6079 Smith W.
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So basically due to injury in one of my legs, I have to reduce the strain on my legs for a few weeks. Driving is not the issue but when in city and waiting for signals, I have to keep my legs on the brake to prevent the car from going forward or backward (neutral gear) due to inclinations and I do not want to keep pressing on the brake. So What I do it using my hand brake to keep the car still. Whats is the downside of it ?
cheers,
Super
------------------------------------------ Too much of good is bad,mix some evil in it
My 6 years old car is hand shifting but I have (and use) the "hill assistant". If the motor is on and there is no gear, when you release the break the car breaks for himself. And if you switch the motor off, it pulls the park break automatically. Very comfortable.
M.D.V. ;) If something has a solution... Why do we have to worry about?. If it has no solution... For what reason do we have to worry about? Help me to understand what I'm saying, and I'll explain it better to you Rating helpful answers is nice, but saying thanks can be even nicer.
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:confused: Don't you always set the hand brake when parking your car? In many countries, it's required by law, and it's always a good idea - especially if parking on a slope.
Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows. -- 6079 Smith W.
Whether *I* do it or not isn't relevant to the matter at hand. I'm just repeating what a guy who fixed cars for decades for a living had seen countless times. [Edit] Apparently not in this country (I'm in Canada)--or else there's a lot of lawbreakers. Besides, how do you enforce that?
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So basically due to injury in one of my legs, I have to reduce the strain on my legs for a few weeks. Driving is not the issue but when in city and waiting for signals, I have to keep my legs on the brake to prevent the car from going forward or backward (neutral gear) due to inclinations and I do not want to keep pressing on the brake. So What I do it using my hand brake to keep the car still. Whats is the downside of it ?
cheers,
Super
------------------------------------------ Too much of good is bad,mix some evil in it
Well, this entire thread has been a massive eye-opener to me. Turns out I've been doing it right all along (as I knew), but everybody else does it wrong! As the highway code states, when the vehicle behind has stopped, you should engage the handbrake and take your foot off the pedal. I always do this by habit, whether at traffic lights, junctions, queuing traffic etc. It makes common sense - I don't want to sit around applying pressure to the brake the whole time. When starting off again, my left foot is on the clutch, right foot on accelerator (gas to some of you), so there is no available foot left to hold the brake! That's OK on the level, but not on a hill; so you apply a little "gas", gradually feed in the clutch till it bites, then release the handbrake and off you go. Why would anyone do it differently? (All happens naturally in under a second, but more smoothly than holding it by footbrake) (My first - and only significant - crash, driving a company car, was when I rear-ended a colleague, also driving a company car. He'd stopped ahead of me on a narrow road to let traffic come through the other way, and engaged handbrake before I'd stopped behind him. I saw his brake lights go off, so accelerated - realising too late he was still stationary. Not a happy phone call to the fleet manager. Hardly my fault though! :laugh: ) In the UK the (vast?) majority of cars are manual, and it always scares the hell out of me when I see (in real life or American movies) automatics pull up, doors open, then the car gives an almighty lurch as ... driver puts it in park? Dunno what that's all about. As for steering, the "push/pull" feeding the wheel through the hands made sense when cars didn't have power steering. In practice only learners still do this, but most of us in the UK will avoid crossing our hands over, I think. Modern steering is light enough that you can normally steer one-handed with the ball of the thumb pressed against the wheel. Stefan Lang - yes, I do that. There are lots of narrow, bendy lanes without pavements round here and when walking, I'd rather cross the road and walk an extra 20 yards than complete my journey by ambulance. It never ceases to amaze me, when driving, to come across people walking on the wrong side of a (straight) road, or walking on the "blind" side round a bend. Sheer stupidity. Next you'll be telling me you don't change down through the gears when slowing down... :wtf:
