Automatic with handbrake on

I personally keep my foot on the brakes. I have seen friends use the handbrake tho, I guess it works, tho I like to have the brake lights on in traffic (if there is no one behind me an approaching car would recognize the need to slow down faster). Putting the car in neutral is an excellent idea, as the transimission isn't loaded, if it is a long light I will use neutral, I still keep ths brakes on tho.

From a point at sea, to the circles of your mind, this is Stuart Gray:

I do it. Since I replaced the handbrake shoes it is actually possible.

I wish more people would do it at traffic lights and suchlike in the dark. Some of the brighter brake lights are painful to sit behind.

Ah, shucks; I'm just developing middle aged grumpiness, aren't I?

That is actually my point, funnily enough. The handbrake cable broke and I haven't got round to replacing it. I just replaced the front pads tho because of a siezed caliped which is now freed, so I have good brakes now. The handbrake seems a bit redundant in an automatic, but I am conscious of blinding the people behind me in a traffic queue, and I feel I may annoy them by putting the lever in park because it goes through reverse to get there. I have noticed a look of alarm in some people behind me when I put it in park then put it in drive when the traffic eventually moves, especially now it's dark when going home. I have heard that it is better for the auto gearbox to leave it in drive for less wear in the long term, but this may be an old wifes tale like the one about never changing the oil in it.

Stuart

It won't hurt anything, though I like to keep my foot on the brake pedal just in case. At any rate make sure the car behind you has come to a stop before you do it.