Stopping in traffic with Geartronic

[S60 PNV]

I too was popping my car into Park at lights or at any junction where I knew I was going to be stationary for more than 5 seconds, as I didn't like to sit on the footbrake.

Then I learned three things:

1. You can come to a stop, engage handbrake, and leave it in drive. Release Handbrake to move away.

2. You can slide up to neutral Without having to use footbrake - depressing footbrake is only required to shift in and out of Park.

3. When you shift from D to P, you go through R, giving the person behind you a momentary scare.



So now I just leave it in D if for a second or two, and into N if waiting for 10+ seconds.


With the handbrake of course.

[Ninja59]

Originally Posted by wimorrison

I fully expected that you would have a contrary opinion to mine however I should point out that the footbrake and handbrake (whether electrical or mechanical) operate on the same rear pads upon the same rear discs (on these cars), therefore using either achieves the same result - the only difference is that the handbrake does not apply the brake lights.

Why does it matter if I had an opposing view?

It does not matter how they operate functionally in this case to me at all...more from a user perspective and more importantly...this...

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.
Law RVLR reg 27

so on the highway it clearly matters whether those brake lights are on.

[Ninja59]

Originally Posted by Jack_of_all

i either sit in Drive, or if i am there for a bit, then into neutral.

As per RoSPA/IAM, you are ready to go.

also its a PARKING brake....since when do you park in the middle of the road.

personally i take the view that if i need to get out of trouble because some numpty behind me is going to hit me then Drive is best and Neutral is not far to go to Drive.

Also if "numpty" behond me is blinded by my brake lights its his/her fault for getting right up my Towbar!

Sorry, rant over now

So instead of having any chance of the car being held should you get hit then the car has the potential to cause more damage or worse put you in danger...excellent.

[Blandy15]

I always leave in drive handbrake on then it is so easy just boot it away from the lights no worries.I cant see all the anty EPB i think its great.On another note im sure my xc60 has a slight timelag on reverse lights so just moving the lever from drive to park does not flash lights on and scare driver behind me.

[Ninja59]

Originally Posted by Blandy15

I always leave in drive handbrake on then it is so easy just boot it away from the lights no worries.I cant see all the anty EPB i think its great.On another note im sure my xc60 has a slight timelag on reverse lights so just moving the lever from drive to park does not flash lights on and scare driver behind me.

Having had an automatic driver in front of me nearly reverse into me because of being in park then yes it does scare the shi*e out of you - the time delay aspect will only be the switch activating but still silly to do.

The question you have to ask yourself is what was wrong with the handbrake/ or even footbrake versions to need some electronics to do it....nothing was, in addition it has a lot less chance of failing thanks to the very fact no electrics are involved which in their very nature require power.

[ian7675]

When at a complete stop and foot on the brake does the gearbox automatically cut power or does it fight against the brakes? Obviously as soon as the brake is released the car will move off under it's own steam slowly when in drive and this happens instantaneously. That is why I always put it in neutral when stopped as I thought it takes the strain from the gearbox when stopped.

[Coventry]

Depends whether the neutral-stop feature has been removed or not I guess. Ours has and subsequently it 'tugs' when stopped on the foot brake like it should do. There's a noticeable difference to the slight strain when I put it into neutral i.e the tug goes away, which is why I do that (and use hand brake) if stopped for a reasonable amount of time at lights/junctions etc.

[Daim]

Originally Posted by Jack_of_all

i either sit in Drive, or if i am there for a bit, then into neutral.

As per RoSPA/IAM, you are ready to go.

also its a PARKING brake....since when do you park in the middle of the road.

personally i take the view that if i need to get out of trouble because some numpty behind me is going to hit me then Drive is best and Neutral is not far to go to Drive.

Also if "numpty" behond me is blinded by my brake lights its his/her fault for getting right up my Towbar!

Sorry, rant over now

The foot brake is the stopping brake, not a holding brake. The handbrake is a holding brake, not a stopping brake. So if you have stopped/halted, you use the brake to hold it aka the handbrake.

[stephend]

Originally Posted by Jack_of_all

Also if "numpty" behond me is blinded by my brake lights its his/her fault for getting right up my Towbar!

Sorry, rant over now

So the next time I get stuck behind some numpty sitting with his brake lights on, I'll simply switch my main beams on, and the car in front is a numpty for having stopped in front of me. Right?

Ok, my rant over now.

FWIW, I drive a manual, and apply the handbrake if I'm going to be stationary for more than a few seconds. I generally keep my foot on the footbrake until someone pulls up behind me (hopefully, having the brake lights showing gives them a bit more warning that I'm stationary), then I release them so as not to dazzle them.

[johnjp]

Originally Posted by Jack_of_all

i either sit in Drive...As per RoSPA/IAM, you are ready to go.
... i take the view that if i need to get out of trouble...Drive is best

I agree, drive gear, foot on brake so the half blind phone user bearing down on me can see I have come to a halt. Drive will also hold it on inclines, probably without the need to apply the handbrake. With winter setting it actually locks on.