This woman forgot to put the car into gear when parking and did not use the handbrake either. The car got rolling and was hit by a truck and almost ended up in a pub. Feel sorry for her.
https://m.hln.be/nieuws/binnenland/spookwagen-ramt-terras-van-cafe-de-turk-in-gent~a6c44960/
Henk

Blimey - a bit of a mess . What are insurance companies like in Belgium - assume this is classed as a write off?

Link

I can understand not putting the car in gear when parked - I consider it a very insecure method of holding a car and potentially dangerous when starting - but how can you forget to use the parking brake? That's what it's *for*.

Yes, but after time they often *don't work very well*

I always leave mine in gear as we all know how ‘great’ the coupe handbrake is! I have a steep drive and wouldn’t want to see my coupe in the lounge!!

I've always left cars in gear with the handbrake on, it was a good habit to develop when I was first driving - living in a hilly area and using cars with dodgy handbrakes. As a consequence I always put the clutch down when starting a car.

I seem to now consciously decide when to put the handbrake on ... especially in winter when the cables are a bit old! But it usually goes on

It always goes in gear when parked and I always depress the clutch when starting as it takes a bit of load off the starter motor. Some modern cars don't even start without depressing the clutch.

Interesting....I'm sure I read in the handbook one shouldn't start it with the clutch depressed. I always used to for the above-mentioned reasons but don't anymore.

That's interesting...was taught to leave car in gear when I learnt to drive-it was in the highway code at the time I learnt....mind you your going back a ways...

Was always taught to start a car with clutch DOWN/IN too.

Most modern cars if manual won't start nowadays unless clutch down ... I just presumed all car developers nowadays are coupe owners...and are used to the handbrake issues... lol

MM

Whether you leave it in gear and apply handbrake or not, before you start an engine you are supposed to check handbrake (because it should really be applied if vehicle unattended, especially on a road or other public place) and also check whether it is in gear or not...a lot of the Highway Code is common sense when you think about it?

Couldn't agree more Ballypete,

I check both anyway automatically in any car I get in before even thinking of reaching for the starter...have to say some younger drivers I know don't seem to do this.

But then they passed their video theory to get there license...and I had a go at this as a trial and failed it completely twice. First time for not clicking enough (did not see many things as a danger on the footpath...a nuisance yep by not a danger) second time for clicking too may times...

I don't think I'd like to try the new driving test.

Regards

MM

Yep - me too.

That's a reflex action for me. Starting with the clutch up is silly/dangerous, and even in neutral a slightly higher load on the engine.

The proper procedure to park a Coop is:

1) Put the handbrake fully up.

2) Put it in gear - 1st if facing uphill or reverse if facing down downhill.

3) Stay in the car.

4) Stay absolutely still. Even a tiny movement and the car could go into neutral and the handbrake go down.

(Make sure you keep a packed lunch and blanket in the glove compartment because you're not going anywhere.)

:-)


5) Park it at the far end of any car park- or in the middle of two car park spaces to stop someone from smashing their door into your bodywork. Or in case the handbrake goes.

6) Look back, and back and back again to admire your car as you walk way. And check the handbrakes holding.

MM

and...

5) Put a brick behind the wheels...

On a particularly steep pub car park, this was essential !

Ok, these 'arsh words are going to drive me to take another look at the manual.

Until I read this instruction (which I'll check) I'd always fired up with the clutch down in 48 years of driving so you can imagine I was er, surprised.

And yes, always leave in gear when parked....on a severe slope select the gear which represents the opposite direction. Oh, and in the US leave your tyre (tire) turned toward the kerb on such a slope....works well here and anywhere else too.

If only the Coop's handbrake was as good as those on modern cars.









I imagine the dental office calling their patients the next day and telling them their appointments were cancelled because there was a car stuck in the side of the building that needed to be extracted and that they were telling the tooth.

I always depress the clutch before starting any car. I thought it was less strain on the engine or something? I also always wiggle gear lever to check it's in neutral. But I have been known to try to get out of a car which is rolling because I have forgotten to put on the handbrake! When I learned to drive in 1979 I was told that if the car is in neutral the handbrake should be on, and when waiting at traffic lights you should be in neutral. Like everyone else I sit there in first gear with the clutch depressed, but that was a no-no according to my driving instructor.

I once borrowed my ex boyfriend's MG midget and I drove it about 15 miles with the handbrake on. Please don't tell him!

I followed someone once with their handbrake full on (not a Coupe as you probably wouldn't notice). Every time they stopped and started the rear of the car hunkered down, and looked like a dog dragging it's rear across the floor. This was accompanied by a loud metallic screech.

The driver was completely oblivious.

What, obvious because he/she was in the driver's seat? We know what you mean...

Reminds me of when I took my turn of driving my mate's Transit van up the M1 when I forgot to take the handbrake off. I just thought it was a bit gutless but after a while it started to smell of baked brake shoes, and when we stopped the drums were red hot (well, not literally). However all was OK afterwards, and the handbrake was actually brilliant afterwards, 100 times better than a Coupe handbrake

Ok, climb-down time....page 122 of the handbook "Procedure" (for starting the engine)

"3) Press the clutch pedal down to the floor without touching the accelerator pedal"

No idea at all where I got the notion from about not depressing it....back to my old habits forthwith then!

Yes, the MG's brakes did pong rather by the time I arrived. I think the handbrake is in a stupid place, on the right of the driver's seat if I remember correctly. Somewhere where you wouldn't notice it was "up". That's my excuse anyway!

Please tell me you also pulled out the little knob to hang your handbag on, Annie?

(Don't hit me, I'm going... )

Do you mean the choke? I'm not THAT stupid! And I do not own a handbag. I like baggy combats with lots of pockets. (I am a tomboy because my parents really didn't want ANOTHER girl!)