"Park" on an auto is linked to the starter circuit so the car won't start other than in park or neutral and you can't take out the key unless the car's in park.
Tha handbrake holds the car. IIRC the Americans call it the emergency brake and do use it on hills, eg.
I always put the car into neutral at a light to stop it creeping and to avoid blinding the next in line, as someone's already said.
When I park, particularly on a hill, I move into neutral on the footbrake, put on the handbrake and let it take the weight of the car, then shift into park.
I'm sure you can leave the handbrake off, but AFAIK the parking pawl just isn't designed to hold the weight of the car.
Edited by Optimist on 28/10/2008 at 10:46
|
I only ever use the handbrake when parking an auto if I'm parking on a hill - otherwise I just use park. As other say, if you don't use it on a hill, it can be hard to get out of park.
The handbrake is also useful at lights - put it on and pop the car in neutral to avoid blinding the driver behind.
|
|
When I am in a queue behind a car with its brake lights on, I am not blinded. I am not even irritated, let alone annoyed. Am I alone in this respect? There's nothing wrong with my sight. I can't understand the fuss that is made about this.
|
You aren't alone Roger. Blinded by brake lights? What's wrong with people?
And as a driver of an auto for twenty odd years I would never knock it into neutral and apply the handbrake in traffic.
Stop, stick it in park, lock car, walk away. Never broken one yet, nor had one roll away.
|
I don't think you need to put the handbrake on but why wouldn't you put it into neutral? If it creeps, you've got to hold it on the footbrake, haven't you?
As for brake lights and "blinding", I think the high level brake lights do "blind", ie make people uncomfortable, if stuck behind in traffic.
|
|
Oh my eyes, my eyes! I'm melting, I'm melting!!!
|
That'll be the Vodka Dave........
;-)
|
I've long been of the opinion that high level brake lights should brighten progressively depending on the level of braking, and i too find the constant barage of high intensity rear lights too much sometimes, especially in a higher vehicle where you may have a birds eye view of dozens of the things ahead.
Apart form anything else the constant brightness destroys what little night vision you may have and which we all sometimes need to spot that unlit cyclist or darkly clothed pedestrian in the urban environment.
Only my opinion of course.
|
1. Open the window
2. Throw out the anchor
3. Make sure the anchor is fast - check by tugging it.
4. If you have a problem with the anchor - ask a passer by to tie it to the nearest lamppost/bollard.
5. If on a hill, take the brick out and place under an appropriate wheel.
|
|
but why wouldn't you put it into neutral? If it creeps you've got to hold it on the footbrake haven't you?
My Vectra (and many other Vauxhall autos) drop themselves into neutral if the brake lights have been on for more than approx 1 second and the car is stationary.
|
If your Vectra does that, then you can take your foot off the brake and not melt people's eyes.
And isn't that the reason why you don't drop your car into neutral: the car does it for you?
|
If your Vectra does that then you can take your foot off the brake and not melt people's eyes.
If I did that then the car would re-engage 1st gear and start moving forward.
And isn't that the reason why you don't drop your car into neutral: the car does it for you?
Correct.
I also don't sit behind the car in front of me staring directly into the brake lights.
|
|
|
|
"My Vectra (and many other Vauxhall autos) drop themselves into neutral if the brake lights have been on for more than approx 1 second and the car is stationary."
Mine does this too Dave but I'm not sure if I like it. On balance I prefer a strong creep that pushes against the brakes, it just suits me in crawling traffic.
"but why wouldn't you put it into neutral? If it creeps you've got to hold it on the footbrake haven't you?"
Yep and that's how I like it.
|
|
|
|
|
You aren't alone Roger. Blinded by brake lights? What's wrong with people?
Well, Dave [and I assume you are at present...] quite a lot is wrong with a lot of people, often through no fault of their own but just because of the way they are made. [the human race is a young and imperfect species].
Many people aged 50 and above have a problem with being dazzled, often because of some opthalmic condition, especially in the dark when raining. It's just a matter of courtesy/thought for the wellbeing of others - sadly often the exception rather than the norm these days. This is no way implies their visual acuity is so impaired as to preclude driving.
|
|
I hasten to add that I usually take my foot off the brake. I see the point about high-level lights, but they don't bother me. All lights are more difficult to cope with in rain. Oh, and I'm well over 50.
Edited by Roger Jones on 28/10/2008 at 15:51
|
I wonder if these same people who stare at brake lights also stare directly at the sun?
Never ceases to amaze me the amount of people who complain at how bright and dazzling brake lights are, yet still stare at them.
Do as you would with any other bright lights, DON'T look directly at them. Simple really.
|
Interesting the way Vauxhall autos drop into neutral under braking and stationary and re-select drive when brakes lift off.
Almost as though holding a car on the brakes in drive might be thought to damage it.
Edited by Optimist on 28/10/2008 at 21:50
|
>>might be thought to damage it.
No, it's a simple ruse to improve fuel consumption - unless you idle in drive for a very long time, nothing is being damaged.
|
High level brake lights DO cause dazzle at night and/or in rain, and it is courteous to use the parking brake rather than dazzle drivers behind. Traffic lights are dimmed at night, but brake lights are not, and a bank of LEDs exactly at my eye level for 30 seconds does annoy me!
The Highway Code recommends looking away from the source of dazzle (be it oncoming lights or the sun) and in traffic jams, I find a slight dip of the sunvisor can blot out brake light dazzle quite well. I am currently seeking to patent a version with a highly polished mirror, to reflect the red dazzle right back at the driver and serve 'em right. The must-have accessory for Christmas 2008, along with my as-yet-unpatented Mimser Bazooka and Casey Jones "cowcatcher" attachment which gently but firmly pushes middle lane hogs into the empty left hand lane as you pass them.
|
Traffic lights are dimmed at night ....
Not round my neck of the woods they're not.
a bank of LEDs exactly at my eye level for 30 seconds does annoy me!
Hey, lets not forgot those cyclists with those bright flashing LEDs. Machine gun in the bumper perhaps?
And as for those anti-social police, fire engines and ambulances with those dazzling blue lights and pulsating headlights.....
|
|
All traffic lights are dimmed at night, if they didn't, you would know about if for sure, as they would be blinding (I have seen a set faulty once)
|
From the Highway Code:
114
You MUST NOT
* use any lights in a way which would dazzle or cause discomfort to other road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders
* use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced. You MUST switch them off when visibility improves to avoid dazzling other road users (see Rule 226)
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.
|
(I have seen a set faulty once)
There must be several faulty sets in Oxfordshire and Wiltshire then. They all appear to be the same brightness regardless of the time of day (or night)
|
|
|
|
