![]() Modern cars usually have an auto-shutdown feature (the engine stops when you go into neutral and take your foot off the clutch, then starts up again when you put the clutch down), and this is an eco-driving feature. On the point about putting the car into neutral, I really only advise my pupils to do this this if they know what they’re doing. If you roll backwards or forwards significantly on a gradient, for example, you are likely to pick up a serious or dangerous fault – especially if there’s someone you might hit. You are going to be marked on the use of the car’s controls on your test, and if you don’t use the parking brake in a situation where really you ought to then you will pick up at least a driver fault. However, as far as the manually operated parking brake is concerned, the important bit here is that you “should normally apply the parking brake whenever the vehicle is stationary… unless the wait is likely to be very short”. As I said above, things have changed a lot in the last few years (an updated version is due to be published soon). the vehicle surging forward if the accelerator is pressed accidentally while in ‘D’ (Drive).īear in mind that although this is from the current version of TES, it is now at least five years old.the possibility of the vehicle creeping forward.In vehicles fitted with automatic transmission, the use of the parking brake is even more important. This will give you room to manoeuvre should the vehicle in front roll back. You could then be pushed into another vehicle or a pedestrian.Īlways leave a safe gap between your vehicle and the vehicle in front while queuing, especially on a hill. Your foot could easily slip off the footbrake if, for example, your shoes are wet or if you’re bumped from behind. You should normally apply the parking brake whenever the vehicle is stationary.Īpply the parking brake according to the instructions in your vehicle’s handbook and put the gear lever into neutral when you’re stopped at traffic lights or queuing behind other vehicles, unless the wait is likely to be very short. The possibility that his pupil had actually done something wrong didn’t enter into it.ĭriving: The Essential Skills (TES, 2015 edition) – which is effectively the syllabus that learners should be taught from – says: The ADI in question was obviously convinced that DVSA was at fault, even though he had neither sat in on the test or listened to the debrief. ![]() It was started by an ADI whose pupil got a driver (“minor”) fault for not using it at a junction. I was originally prompted to write this article after I saw a “debate” on a defunct forum about using the parking brake. Although I have hitherto referred to it as a “handbrake”, with the electronic system becoming the norm there is now good reason to switch to the alternative (and more correct) term of “parking brake”, so that’s what I’m going to do from now on. Where a car has a manually operated lever (the classic handbrake), refer also to this article on whether or not to push the button when you apply it. More and more cars now have electronic handbrakes, along with other brake-assist functions. ![]() Since I first wrote this article, things have changed somewhat. ![]()
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