[doubled112]

I use both in a manual. Cheap insurance. Handbrake, and in gear in case the handbrake fails.

But I’ve never seen the driver of an automatic set the parking brake. Never. That gear is “park” so they use it when they park.

Only driving manuals, I have to really remind myself not to in somebody else’s car because it is probably going to stick as a result of never being used.

[nytesky]

I don’t drive manuals now because my wife hasn’t been able to leadn how, but I am adamantly teaching my daughter to always set the parking brake when parked. What frustrates me is this finicky push button electronic parking brakes, I want a good mechanical handbrake or even a 3rd pedal parking brake.

[voidmain0001]

Aeons ago I paid $50 to a manual shifting driving instructor to teach my wife to drive manual. It saved our relationship and she drove stick better than me as a result. The instructor’s trick was to show how a clutch works then he had his students get the vehicle moving from a stopped position by only feathering the clutch pedal. He wouldn’t let them use the accelerator pedal. Once they learned where the engagement happened in the pedal’s throw the rest was easy.

[nytesky]

Thanks, we are probably past the age and epoch of when paying to learn manual would make sense for DW, but would like my kids to learn. That is so true, finding that spectrum of clutch petal engagement was crucial. I remember when I first learned stomping on the clutch, treating it as a binary mode rather than a gradient.

[vvillena]

The position is "park" because it parks the gearbox mechanism, not the car. It's clear that many people misuse it, to the point that manufacturers overengineer the gearbox lock so it's able to serve as a parking brake.

[proneb1rd]

I think I witness that VW automatically engage the electronic handbreak as the driver opens the door while the stick is in parking position.

[01HNNWZ0MV43FF]

I always use mine, but yeah I run into a lot of other automatic owners who don't.

I'm guessing it starts as a habit, they either weren't taught in driving class or it wasn't enforced, then it became ingrained and they never got curious about what they could be wrong about,or what it means that their car rocks when they step out.

Even with a "car guy" who was working on my rear wheels (fwd) he asked if I had AWD. No buddy, I just remembered to set the brake before you got it up on the jack.

For curious readers, if you always park on level ground, just set the brake anyway as a drill. If it's busted, you'll get a chance to fix it before you need it

I also always turn my headlights on. It uses a little more gas but saves the judgement call of wondering whether it's real dark enough or whether the computer will turn them on for me. Always on.

[jeffbee]

All aspects of the way other people drive are horrifying but one of the worst things is drivers with automatic transmissions who don't use the parking brake, and their car lurches 6 inches when they are getting out. If you stop the car, set the parking brake, and shift into park the car will not move when you release the brake. It feels so much better and you won't look like a loser.

[scotty79]

When I turn off Toyota hybrid it engages parking break automatically. Why wouldn't it?

Is it possible for modern car to be off in neutral?

[jvolkman]

My Pacifica does this as well. Shifting to park also engages the parking break.