The Benefit of Parking In Gear
Discussion
I saw this on my way into Tesco. The driver if the grey car wasn't there as there were several tannoy announcements for him while I was shopping. Handbrake error presumably.
When I returned 25 min later the grey car was still there. No too much damage to the front so presumably a low speed impact. Also fresh damage to the offside front wing. Looks like it hit at least one other car on its journey down the hill
The lane it is coming from is one way uphill so can't figure out how it ended up there. Reversed into a bay with the front wheels at 45 degrees so it turned downhill as it rolled out? Or if the wheels were straight it has rolled over 50 yards downhill.
At least it hit a car and not a person.
When I returned 25 min later the grey car was still there. No too much damage to the front so presumably a low speed impact. Also fresh damage to the offside front wing. Looks like it hit at least one other car on its journey down the hill
The lane it is coming from is one way uphill so can't figure out how it ended up there. Reversed into a bay with the front wheels at 45 degrees so it turned downhill as it rolled out? Or if the wheels were straight it has rolled over 50 yards downhill.
At least it hit a car and not a person.
Edited by irc on Friday 4th November 15:41
Edited by irc on Friday 4th November 15:41
Don’t know if it’s the same mechanism but I had a Vectra C a long time ago , the handbrake had a warning on it if I recall to make sure you let the clicks engage when applying it.
I.E you don’t hold the button as you lift it. I’m not sure if you’re supposed to on all cars , been ages since I last had one!
I ignored said warning and my car was 1m further back out of an almost completely flat parking space an hour later!
I.E you don’t hold the button as you lift it. I’m not sure if you’re supposed to on all cars , been ages since I last had one!
I ignored said warning and my car was 1m further back out of an almost completely flat parking space an hour later!
Luckily didnt hit anything though, always left it in gear since!I have always in my 38 years of driving parked every manual car I have owned (or had regular use of) in gear.
The only reason I can think of for anybody not to do this is because they are simply not in the habit and dont understand the benefits of doing so and could not trust themselves to remember the car was in gear when starting the engine. That last point brings about another good habit to press down on the clutch before starting.
There has always been a recognised benefit in leaving a vehicle parked in gear, and slowly they are being made idiot proof by electronic handbrakes that come on automatically when the engine is stopped, and starting only possible with clutch depressed.
The only reason I can think of for anybody not to do this is because they are simply not in the habit and dont understand the benefits of doing so and could not trust themselves to remember the car was in gear when starting the engine. That last point brings about another good habit to press down on the clutch before starting.
There has always been a recognised benefit in leaving a vehicle parked in gear, and slowly they are being made idiot proof by electronic handbrakes that come on automatically when the engine is stopped, and starting only possible with clutch depressed.
Ron240 said:
idiot proof by electronic handbrakes that come on automatically when the engine is stopped,
This wrong thinking has led to a few errors as reported on PH. 
You do need to engage the park brake with the pedal. 99.99% of the time when you pull up your foot is on the brake, so it seems that turning the engine off engages the brake. Fact is if you roll to a stop (but, who ever does that?) the park brake does not engage.There you are, a little known fact. (apart from the people who have let their car run down the hill
)Ron240 said:
I have always in my 38 years of driving parked every manual car I have owned (or had regular use of) in gear.
The only reason I can think of for anybody not to do this is because they are simply not in the habit and dont understand the benefits of doing so and could not trust themselves to remember the car was in gear when starting the engine. That last point brings about another good habit to press down on the clutch before starting.
There has always been a recognised benefit in leaving a vehicle parked in gear, and slowly they are being made idiot proof by electronic handbrakes that come on automatically when the engine is stopped, and starting only possible with clutch depressed.
My 10 years old tin-top with manual handbrake requires the clutch pedal to be pressed to start the engine.The only reason I can think of for anybody not to do this is because they are simply not in the habit and dont understand the benefits of doing so and could not trust themselves to remember the car was in gear when starting the engine. That last point brings about another good habit to press down on the clutch before starting.
There has always been a recognised benefit in leaving a vehicle parked in gear, and slowly they are being made idiot proof by electronic handbrakes that come on automatically when the engine is stopped, and starting only possible with clutch depressed.
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
..on most cars that is, not saying all
Agreed, and newer Mercedes cars do engage the electronic parking brake when the engine is turned off. On a related subject auto hold is a popular feature nowadays (i never use it), but it is important to remember it is is not a parking brake.
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