Use your handbrake, kn*bhead!

I think in the USA they are trained and required to use the footbrake at junctions etc, probably cos they have so many automatics.

Originally Posted by Tomcat

Gear control and engine braking, of course you can do lights without touching the brake. As far a not using neutral, yes you should, why would you sit at lights with pressure on your brake pedal for approx 3 mins, if you have got a handbrake to do it

Tomcat, i assume you have never driven a honda legend or a mercedes s class?

Let me tell you, the legend has a 3.5L v6 engine connected to an automatic gearbox. It has D5,D4,3,2,1,N & R.

When the car is at low speed it moves along by itself at arund 4mph when no pedal is pressed. If I was at the lights using engine braking, i can't use gear control as it is an auto, and rolled to a stop i would go into the car infront. The car will not stop if you release the throttle, it will slow down to around kerb crawling speeds.

The legend has parking brakes rather than a handbrake so you can't just use the handbrake as it does not have one! The parking brake is clearly not been designed to be used constantly like a handbrake, it is used when the engine is off and you are parking.

Believe me there is no other options at the lights than this:

Put car in neutral with no brake. The car could roll, or if someone hit you you will continue.
Push on brake pedal. This will disengage the clutch and brake the car for a period of time.

The legend was not designed for the UK it was built for the US market. Here is a pic:
Look at the lack of handbrake!

Originally Posted by arenalife

I think in the USA they are trained and required to use the footbrake at junctions etc, probably cos they have so many automatics.

Well my post above explains why!

umm... Handbrake on but still in 1st gear with clutch depressed. So I can just let the handbrake off, floor the accelerator and lift the clutch when the lights change without the slow bothersome changing into 1st from neutral.

I have a very slow car.

Originally Posted by ricky_t

Look at the lack of handbrake!

Of all the reasons to get anoyed at people on the roads... this ranks highly as the most petty and least worthy of any rant. Find something less stupid to complain about.

FS, I take it you're a kn*bhead then!

see, it is true. You do learn something new everyday

I am going to be quiet now. I didn't take pictures of my car, i just used some of a site.
The legend came with handbrake/parkbrake method. I am going to stop arguing now as most cars in the uk will be able to use handbrake at lights. I was just trying to counter argue for the 1/1000 cars on the road!

But if car drivers used their handbrakes they'd be even more slow getting away from a standing start... it's already hard enough for them to bear it when bikes rocket past them everywhere that they get stuck. Poor mites.