Use of handbrake in driving test?

[cb31]

Having passed my test 30 years ago my knowledge of the driving test is completely out of date. My son is learning to drive and his instructor asked us to give him some driving practice between lessons but I'm worried I may be teaching him wrongly. eg. I was saying you can't cross your arms when steering and must shuffle steer but apparently that is no longer the case.

My question is about what to do when stopped in traffic or at lights/junctions, I was taught to put it in neutral and put the handbrake on. My son leaves it in gear and sits on the brake then when setting off relies on the car auto-hold. This horrified me but he said his instructor told him to do this but seeing as he is not exactly reliable I don't know whether to believe him or not.

Can anyone clarify what the current rules are, is sitting on the brake allowed nowadays?

[cb31]

Pica-Pica said:

Am I missing something, or shouldn’t you be asking his instructor?

Helpful. I can wait a week and a half and ask his instructor before his next lesson or ask here.

[cb31]

CantDecide said:

I was recently in exactly the same position except my daughters instructor was sacked four weeks before her test so I was left with the enviable task of trying to get her through it (having failed miserably to get another instructor).

Also passed my test over 30 years ago and yes some things have definitely changed.

You can cross your arms, although probably not great practice, hands at 9-3, and obviously don’t let the wheel slide through your hands. Handbrake use is much reduced, if stopping (e.g. pulling over) or an extended stop in traffic and obviously on hills then the handbrake is the right way, otherwise you can sit on the brake.

Thanks, that's perfect.