Recently when I've been waiting at the lights I will leave the car in drive and apply the park brake.....that way when I want to set of I just press the accelerator.

Are there any reasons why I shouldn't do this? Is using the Park Brake whilst in Drive ok?

Dont see anything wrong with it but I would try not to be aggressive when pulling away as the brakes are locked on until the electrics/mechanics release them.

At a LR Experience day the chap there showed me that in the case of an emergency, you can use the park brake to stop the vehicle by holding it on. If you pull it once it mearly makes a ping noise but holding it on uses the brakes to their full. Gas, grass or ass - nobody rides for free!!

Yep, if you have an adventurous instructor, they like showing you this during an LRE to prove you can do handbrake turns in an RRS! Rather their car than mine

No issue in applying the EPB at traffic lights... although I expect a driving instructor would suggest you go into neutral first  

One of the questions I asked during a LRE day was about the ebrake and was it ok to engage it whilst moving. We were doing about 50mph, he pulled it on, it works. Lots of noise, just about went through the windscreen, but it really does work.

As you say, its ok to practice in somebody else's car! .

There is absolutely no substitute for a genuine lack of preparation.


Tasmod's SS bits, TV, ipod/USB, vase of daffs on the back shelf, tropical fish collection in the centre console, hamsters in the spare tyre and finally sheep on the passenger seats.....for weight distribution, what else??

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Regarding keeping drive engaged with the EPB engaged I rarely seem to end up at the front of the queue at the lights these day and it takes so long for everybody else to realise that the lights have gone to green that I put the selector to Neutral if I am stopped for more than 30 secs at the lights.
In last weekend's Sunday Times there was an item about driving in D in heavy traffic - apparrently you will fail your driving test these days if you use D in stop start traffic, you are considered not to be in full control of the vehicle..... apparently you should use the commandshift/tiptronic gears of a modern gearbox as there is more engine braking....................... sorry but I didn't buy a car with an automatic gearbox only to have to shift gears myself! A Carbon Footprint is the mark a lump of coal makes when it's dropped on the ground.

TDv8 HSE - Stornoway Grey with ebony and straight grain walnut wood-a-like interior with towpack, Tasmods. The best car I have ever owned
Now departed - Giverny Green TDv6SE with Aspen and Parchment interior - nearly the best car I have ever owned
Staying - Epsom Green Defender 90 for playing off road

Last edited by Tim in Scotland on Fri Apr 25 2008 1:55pm. Edited 1 time in total

I wonder how many of us that have been driving for a long time would fail if we were tested against today's driving test  

Tim - did you ever pass a driving test? RRS 2.7 TDV6 HSE Zambezi silver,Alpaca.
On Order - LRX expected 2010
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I only use EPB when at lights if I remember to leave plenty of room to the car in front. On more than one occasion the EPB has engaged but the car continued to roll gently forward, only stopping upon application of the foot brake

Stealer couldn't find the problem as it's intermittant and just like my dodgy parking sensors behaves itself when at the stealer  _______________________________

Currrent: 2005 RRS SE, Silver, Chrome Mirrors, Tinted with a stupid spare wheel!
Gone: Audi A4 2.5 TDi Quattro 180bhp
Gone: BMW 535i
Gone: 1985 Audi Quattro
Gone: Subaru Imprezza Turbo (rubbish)

VA yes, I'm not THAT old. I was a late starter at driving, passed my test in 1979 after I had passed my ship driving tests! A Carbon Footprint is the mark a lump of coal makes when it's dropped on the ground.

TDv8 HSE - Stornoway Grey with ebony and straight grain walnut wood-a-like interior with towpack, Tasmods. The best car I have ever owned
Now departed - Giverny Green TDv6SE with Aspen and Parchment interior - nearly the best car I have ever owned
Staying - Epsom Green Defender 90 for playing off road

Interesting. Never though of applying the EPB while at lights and in drive. Sometimes i forget i have a handbrake . I really wished the RRS has the brake pedal like the S class merc which holds the brake pedal for you when at lights ect..

The EPB is designed to automatically release when you apply the accelerator in drive or reverse. So there is no harm in applying the park brake whilst the vehicle is in drive.

One of the reasons for this feature is to aid peole who are towing, especially if they are forced to stop on a upward slope. Leave the vehicle in park and apply the EPB, when the time comes to dive away you can do so safely without any risk of rolling backwards whilst trying to juggle between neutral and drive. Arctic Frost TDV6 SE. Aspen Leather, Cherry Wood, Privacy Glass, PTI, Tow Pack, Mudflaps, Tasmods, a new Fuelflap, a RRSport.co.uk umbrella in the boot & a RRSport.co.uk sticker on the rear glass.
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The Neutral selection comment you mention is because of foreign legislation. If you drive any late Ford CVT 7 Speed(Focus Auto 04-07 or 07 onwards) or GM AM or AR's (New shape Vectra Petrol and Diesel Autos) you will find a slight jerk at the lights when you loose the foot brake, this is because while stationary they select neutral through the electronics by disengaging the solenoid and freeing the clutch to cool down, and when you take your foot off the brake again they take up drive. they are trying to make it law to build the vehicles this way and they want the people with the old type to select N. It cuts down on heat build up while stationary because the oil cooler flow is slower and it cuts down on emissions with less engine load. You don't stop playing because you get old, You get old because you stop playing.