Stopping at lights in an auto

fricatus

Hi all,

I expect to be driving in the States in a few months and I've never driven an auto before. I'm told it's a little like driving a bumper car... without the bumping, hopefully!

I saw an article in the Irish Times today, which doesn't appear to give an explicit answer though. Is what he's saying, put it in Park and apply the handbrake?

Can someone clarify this for me? I would happily just sit there with my foot on the brake, but I hate when others do that at night and blind me with their super-bright red rear LEDs.

Anan1

Only take it out of D if you expect to be stopped for a few minutes.

trellheim

Correct, you should put the parking brake on if you're going to be stopped for any period of time as with any car whether manual or auto , your foot may slip off the brake, and all autos will creep.

kazul

trellheim wrote: »

Correct, you should put the parking brake on if you're going to be stopped for any period of time as with any car whether manual or auto , your foot may slip off the brake, and all autos will creep.

C'mon, how likely is it that somebody's foot would "slip" off the brake? Probably as likely as a situation where you need to move off quickly.
I only engage park and the park brake when I park my car.

JD1763

Dont worry its nice and easy, just use the foot brake at lights and stop signs or in traffic. If you lift off the brake without pressing the accelerator it will move forward but quite slowly. When you've parked up you usually cant remove the keys from the ignition unless you've selected P on the gear shift.

Whats hard is when you come home 2 weeks later and try to drive a manual again.

polyfusion

kazul wrote: »

C'mon, how likely is it that somebody's foot would "slip" off the brake?

When some bollix rear-ends you, and then you're more likely to go into the car in front of you, et cetrea. You'll be doubly p!ssed if it ever happens to you.

Everyone stopped at lights etc, for more than 10-20 seconds, should apply the parking brake. My driving instructor ground that into me - I'm under the impression that no one else in the country pulls theirs, not even when at a stop on an incline.

kazul

If i was sitting stationary and had nobody in front i'd prefer not to have the P-brake on as moving my car forward would absorb some of the impact. Or if i clocked an imminent impact from the rear i'd have more chance of moving away (unlikely i know).
So i'll stick to my original advice, use the Park "gear" and park brake when parking the car only.

JD1763

Personal experience of driving in the States unless I'm parking I've never engaged the handbrake at lights. Tbh trying to get the auto to the correct D position and then disengaging the handbrake after the light goes green you'd be copping alot of abuse from those waiting behind you.

CharlieCroker

what i do when driving an auto and stopped at the lights for a little while is just throw it into N. takes the pressure off you foot from the car trying to creep forward.
Dunno if its right or wrong but it works for me

R.O.R

Also, unlike a bumper car, you use your right foot for the brake and the accelerator. Whatever you do, don't try left foot braking (unless you enjoy headbutting the steering wheel).

Stephen

I've been in the states for a few months now driving various automatic company cars and always just sit on the brake at traffic lights. Its also a bit surprising to cars behind if someone does stick it into P, as it will cause the reversing lights to come on when they push it through R.

ChristyCent

R.O.R wrote: »

Also, unlike a bumper car, you use your right foot for the brake and the accelerator. Whatever you do, don't try left foot braking (unless you enjoy headbutting the steering wheel).

Happened me only last week driving an auto rover 75 :mad:

Alanstrainor

Leave the car in Drive, sit on the brake, and if you'll be stopped in traffic for prolonged periods pop on the handbrake/parking brake. Simple as that really, Park is only used when actually parked. Some people will apply the parking brake and shift into neutral, but that kind of defeats the purpose of an auto imho.

El Guapo!

ChristyCent wrote: »

Happened me only last week driving an auto rover 75 :mad:

My current car is an auto and the first day I bought it I went for the clutch and accidently stood on the brake with my left foot! Nearly went through the windscreen! :eek:

Voodoomelon

polyfusion wrote: »

When some bollix rear-ends you, and then you're more likely to go into the car in front of you, et cetrea. You'll be doubly p!ssed if it ever happens to you.

Everyone stopped at lights etc, for more than 10-20 seconds, should apply the parking brake. My driving instructor ground that into me - I'm under the impression that no one else in the country pulls theirs, not even when at a stop on an incline.

Maybe with a handbrake, but not a parking brake. You can drive with a parking brake on no problem and it certainly wouldn't stop you slamming into the car infront if you were rear-ended. Its only for parking, hence the name.

P.C.

fricatus wrote: »

but I hate when others do that at night and blind me with their super-bright red rear LEDs.

I have to agree with you here.

This is one of my pet hates.
I always put the car in neutral, and put the handbrake on when stopped at the lights.

Don't underrstand why people with Autos can't also be polite.

Got a headache from the very bright brake lights tonight. :mad:

Esel

CharlieCroker wrote: »

what i do when driving an auto and stopped at the lights for a little while is just throw it into N. takes the pressure off you foot from the car trying to creep forward.
Dunno if its right or wrong but it works for me

There's a theory that switching from D to N and back again regularly causes unnecessary wear on the torque converter.

R.O.R wrote: »

Also, unlike a bumper car, you use your right foot for the brake and the accelerator. Whatever you do, don't try left foot braking (unless you enjoy headbutting the steering wheel).

Left foot braking when driving an auto is recommended by some. I do it, and find it great, especially in town/traffic. You can drive with your left foot resting on the brake pedal, and it reduces your reaction time appreciably, in my experience. Different strokes, I suppose....

Gran Hermano

P.C. wrote: »

Got a headache from the very bright brake lights tonight. :mad:

Joking aside, if my eyes were that sensitive I'd be having a chat with my GP and optician.

I drive an auto and the only time it's in 'park' is when it's parked.

P.C.

Gran Hermano wrote: »

Joking aside, if my eyes were that sensitive I'd be having a chat with my GP and optician.

I drive an auto and the only time it's in 'park' is when it's parked.

My eyes are actually very sensitive - short of wearing my dark glasses, nothing can be done.
The rain makes it worse, as it reflects the light even more, and I was on the bike this evening. In the car, I can put the sunvisor down to block the brake lights of the car in front.

How can you sit at the lights with the super bright brake lights of the car in front of you burning into your eyes, and be comfortable?
If I knew that I was doing that to the car behind me, I would feel very guilty.

Damien360

P.C. wrote: »

My eyes are actually very sensitive - short of wearing my dark glasses, nothing can be done.
The rain makes it worse, as it reflects the light even more, and I was on the bike this evening. In the car, I can put the sunvisor down to block the brake lights of the car in front.

How can you sit at the lights with the super bright brake lights of the car in front of you burning into your eyes, and be comfortable?
If I knew that I was doing that to the car behind me, I would feel very guilty.

Off topic but you should consider reactive lenses. Pain in the arse when you go into a building as they take time to adjust but will help you loads.

Voodoomelon

I always said there should be a feature on automatic cars whereby the brake lights go off after 5 seconds if the car is stationary. It would save a lot of annoyance.

colm_mcm

If you're stopped for 5-10 secs, leave it in D with foot on the brake
Any longer then put it into P, no need for handbrake

No need to over-complicate it.

Wishbone Ash

P.C. wrote: »

Don't underrstand why people with Autos can't also be polite.

Got a headache from the very bright brake lights tonight. :mad:

There's nothing to stop those in an auto leaving it in Drive and appling the parking brake.

colm_mcm wrote: »

Any longer then put it into P, no need for handbrake

That's complicating it! Park should only be used when the journey ends. Otherwise leave it in Drive and apply the parking brake.

Bogger77

esel wrote: »

There's a theory that switching from D to N and back again regularly causes unnecessary wear on the torque converter.

OP will be using a rental, torque converter wear will not be his issue

colm_mcm

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

That's complicating it! Park should only be used when the journey ends. Otherwise leave it in Drive and apply the parking brake.

Says who? I've had automatic cars and this has worked for me. car will only roll 6" in either direction.

unkel

Dean09 wrote: »

My current car is an auto and the first day I bought it I went for the clutch and accidently stood on the brake with my left foot!

Happened to my father in law in his first auto. I was in the car at the time. Luckily it was only at low speed in a housing estate. Most people in this country seem to have a "moment" like that when switching to automatic.

I moved to auto cars many years ago and I switch between manual and auto on a daily basis (and regularly between left and right hand drive too) but honestly I have never stamped my left foot on the brake in an automatic...

Wishbone Ash

colm_mcm wrote: »

Says who? I've had automatic cars and this has worked for me

Because something works for you, that doesn't make it correct. Try shifting to PARK in a driving test and see how impressed the examiner will be!

Shifting an auto like this causes unnecessary wear. It's designed to be left in Drive until the journey ends.

Wishbone Ash

unkel wrote: »

I switch between manual and auto on a daily basis (and regularly between left and right hand drive too) but honestly I have never stamped my left foot on the brake in an automatic...

I switch regularly also between buses, trucks, cars, motorcycles, auto and manual and have never yet slammed my foot on the brake!

metrovelvet

You dont use your left foot at all ever. To stop at a light? Press the break and hold.

Wishbone Ash

metrovelvet wrote: »

You dont use your left foot at all ever. To stop at a light? Press the break and hold.

The lads are referring to those who aren't accustomed to autos and who instinctively slam their foot down on what would normally be the clutch pedal when stopping in a hurry!

colm_mcm

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Because something works for you, that doesn't make it correct. Try shifting to PARK in a driving test and see how impressed the examiner will be!

Shifting an auto like this causes unnecessary wear. It's designed to be left in Drive until the journey ends.

This is the same test that fails you if you don't have both hands on the wheel when parking. give me a break.

Are you telling me that if you had a car that needed a battery charging, that you'd leave it in D with the torque converter creeping forward opposing the handbrake, rather than putting it in P or N?

condra

I use the footbrake when stopped, and if I'm going to be there for longer than a few seconds, I'll apply the handbreak, if for no other reason than to relax my foot for a while.

Dropping the handbreak and taking off briskly when the lights go green is effortless when you get used to it. Anyway, one usually knows when the lights are about to go, so can release the handbrake in good time anyway.

Wishbone Ash

colm_mcm wrote: »

This is the same test that fails you if you don't have both hands on the wheel when parking

1. No one 'fails' a driving test for not having both hands on the steering wheel unless they do the whole test with only one hand on the wheel. It's an urban myth usually peddled by those who are pelalised for much more serious errors.

2. Another myth - There is no assessment of parking in a category B driving test. At the end of the test, the examiner only determines if the vehicle is parked in a relatively safe manner.

colm mcm wrote:

Are you telling me that if you had a car that needed a battery charging, that you'd leave it in D with the torque converter creeping forward opposing the handbrake, rather than putting it in P or N?

Yes - if there was a problem with the battery, I'd replace it.

Rovi

It's generally considered to be bad practice to shift from D to N (or even P) and back again routinely during the course of normal stop/start driving, as it puts considerable wear on the clutch packs.
As others have said, shifting from D to P and back again also involves moving through the R position, which will flash the reversing lights each time, possibly inducing palpitations and/or confusion in the driver behind.

Going on the advice of autobox rebuild specialists I've talked to over the years and unless the instructions in the Driver's Manual state differently, here's what I do:
I'll never put the car in P unless I'm actually stopped with the engine off.
If I want to exit the car but leave the engine running, I'll put it in N with the handbrake engaged.
If during the course of ordinary driving I'll be stopped for more than a few seconds, I'll leave it in D and engage the handbrake.

_Kaiser_

Rovi wrote: »

Going on the advice of autobox rebuild specialists I've talked to over the years and unless the instructions in the Driver's Manual state differently, here's what I do:
I'll never put the car in P unless I'm actually stopped with the engine off.
If I want to exit the car but leave the engine running, I'll put it in N with the handbrake engaged.
If during the course of ordinary driving I'll be stopped for more than a few seconds, I'll leave it in D and engage the handbrake.

I was gonna say this, but you put it better

In my older 02 Passat though which had a "proper" handbrake (as opposed to the Parking Brake button my 06 has) though I used to just put it in N and pull the handbrake if I was going to be there more than a few seconds.

I actually find the Parking Brake idea more pointless than useful as it doesn't always engage/disengage at the first press and although the extra storage space between the 2 front seats is nice, I don't really see why they changed it.

RobAMerc

I cannot believe the nonsense pedaled here as good practice.

Its bad enough most Irish drivers knock their manuals into neutral and apply the handbrake at all lights - meaning it takes some tools about 20 mins to get going once the lights change.

Going into P while stopped at lights in an Auto is even more ridiculous. Perhaps N and the foot brake - but going from P and sticking the car back in D and releasing the HB will take an age.

Modern Autos are designed to be put in D and left in D unless you are going to Park ( thats what the P is for ) or going in Reverse - R.

N could be used at very long sequence lights or if your stopped for a moment but will have ample time to move off again.
If your foot gets tired holding the car there is 3 things could be wrong - your foot, your brakes or your gearbox - it shouldn't take a lot of effort to keep a car stopped.

So you've passed your test - whoopee - move on to drive like a proper motorist.