Quote:

Originally Posted by corradoboy

As a DSA Approved instructor I teach learners the 'tires'n'tarmac' rule, whereby they must be able to see where the car aheads tires meet the road surface, no closer, but a little (reasonable) amount further off is not an issue. They must use the handbrake if it is obviously a definite stop and be out of gear if 3 or more cars back.

Originally posted by Reece_1

Yes was taught this rule when was learning to drive, if im stopped on a hill, then would allow some extra space with the vehicle in front. If I have a learner driver in front I always give them a bit extra space.

I was learnt to drive with this method as well and it's served me well.

I usually apply the handbrake but leave the car in gear unless I'm there for a longer than normal time.

If I'm at the very rear of the traffic then I'll keep an eye out for the next vehicle coming up behind me and before they get too close give them a short flash of brake lights - just as an attention grabber.

This has saved me on at least one occasion when a car coming up behind (A passat estate I think) just hadn't seen and had to stand on the brakes hard to stop in time

Do you drive as prescribed by the DSA and secure your car on the handbrake when stationary at junctions.

nope told not to do this on the advance.

Do you drive as prescribed by the DSA and secure your car on the handbrake when stationary at junctions. If you are the first or second car you should be on the handbrake, but in gear ready to react, but why doesn't everyone else take the opportunity to rest their legs for a few moments, make the world a safer place and knock it out of gear whilst safely locked on the handbrake ? Almost every car I see, and I do look as I am a driving instructor, is sat there with one foot on the brake, the other on the clutch and in gear. Not only are you blinding the guy behind with your brake lights, but if struck from behind you will [probably] loose control of the pedals whilst in gear and be propelled possibly into crossing traffic like a pinball. You are also potentially causing damage to your braking system.

Come on then, roughly 3 out of 4 I see do this, is it you ?

weaken's the spring's in the clutch plate too :thumbdwn:

I apply the handbrake, put the car in neutral, turn off the ignition and get out. I then drive a series of 2m steel spikes into the surface of the road and connect high-tensile steel cables from these spikes to the towing points on the car. I then distribute flares onto the road around the car and set up and activate a 3-million-candlepower nautical strobe light to ensure that oncoming vehicles have no clue whatsoever what's going on.

Finally I deploy a giant robot stegosaurus in the other lane.

Using these techniques I have never, in 23,000 years, been rear ended at the traffic lights.

ROFL :rofl::rofl::rofl: I think you should be a little more cautious

Couple of comments on the above, even though most is an old post....

Sitting with foot on the brake will (and this is a FACT) cause your brake discs to warp over time. The effects will be more rapid when braking from a high speed or when the brakes are otherwise hot. The heat cannot dissipate from the area under the touching pads as quickly as the area that is in open air. This causes the metal to warp.

Highway code S114

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.

Section 116

Hazard warning lights. These may be used when your vehicle is stationary, to warn that it is temporarily obstructing traffic. Never use them as an excuse for dangerous or illegal parking. You MUST NOT use hazard warning lights while driving or being towed unless you are on a motorway or unrestricted dual carriageway and you need to warn drivers behind you of a hazard or obstruction ahead. Only use them for long enough to ensure that your warning has been observed.

I personally, as instructed by my driving instructor 20 years ago when coming to a stop at a queue try to slow down gently and when almost at a stop, slightly release the pressure on the pedal so to make the final stop less sudden. I will also endeavor to leave the point of contact between tyre and tarmac (of other car) in view.

I will apply the handbrake and take foot of the foot brake unless its a fast moving road with bad signage/visibilty etc when I will keep my foot just and no more on the pedal so my lights show and remove once another car has either stopped or showed signs of stopping.

If coming around a blind corner and finding stopped traffic at an incident of some sort I will press and release the foot brake at regular intervals until someone else appears behind. I will also attempt to position the rear of my vehicle in such a way so its visible quicker to a car approaching from behind. (ie. on a left hand bend will keep as far right as I safely can).

I will also release the foot brake a couple of times while braking for an incident on a motorway or use hazards as per HC above.

Steve

Always use the handbrake, but then my knees are knackered and it hurts to hold the clutch and brake down for any length of time.

Since being rear ended by a helpful woman who was doing 40mph, I also make a careful point of not looking behind me at junctions. I looked just before she smacked the car behind me into mine and I tensed up - left me with rather bad whiplash and a frozen shoulder. The driver of the car behind me didn't see it coming and was all relaxed and didn't get hurt as bad - her car on the other hand was baked bean tins.

Also the woman who caused it all didn't see it coming because she was loooking behind her and didn't notice the queue of stationary traffic or the red traffic lights.

However I did discover that a saab 95 is a lot stronger than a vectra...

i was told on mine 17 years ago (and practiced a couple of times on the A34) start slowing down with plenty of time and hit the hazzards, watch the mirror and as you see the others behind react i.e. put theirs on or slow much quicker then release your hazzard lights.

Nearly always. I hate (dark rainy lights especially) where people hang on the brakes dazzling you and then roll back as they try (and fail) to drop the brakes and catch it on the clutch. bit more acceptable with an auto, I suppose.

I got told to use the handbrake.

If you are using the foot brake/clutch and somebody run's into the back of you, you would most likley lift your foot off the brake/stall and perhaps hit either a car in front or a person crossing the road.

If you are using the foot brake/clutch and somebody run's into the back of you, you would most likley lift your foot off the brake/stall and perhaps hit either a car in front or a person crossing the road.

But if someone runs into the back of you, the rear of your car will be lifted - if your back wheels aren't in contact with the road, you effectively won't have any brakes applied anyway...

Rob.

I try and gage the lights so I dont need the breaks, most of the lights I go thru I know the rough timings, If I have to stop then I use the hand break, unless I know the change is commin. It is dangerouse but some times I dont use the break at all, only when there is a few cars behind me tos thake the hit from behind. if the car doesnt move when in neutral and no breaks on then i dont bother some times, lazyness i think.