How To Drive An Auto Transmission Car ?

After decades of driving I need advice and the web is confusing.  I am changing my manual box car for an auto.  Just a small question about stopping at traffic lights etc, what should I do ?  views are :

 (1) Stay in DRIVE.  Foot on brake.  FOR, its quick.  AGAINST, warp the disc, dazzle people with brake lights (illegal UK ?)

(2) Shift to NEUTRAL.  Apply handrake. FOR, could be safer,  AGAINST, wear on box.

My web finds seem to be, IF I AM CORRECT, is that :

(1) USA teaching

(2) UK teaching  (required for UK test ?)

I could be wrong about USA / UK differences.  I will not need a test.

Also, when driving DEAD SLOW to enter / exit narrow garage can both feet be used, which is against usual auto method ?

  Any advice from auto fans please ?

I am changing due to left knee and foot problem. 

Hi Mick

My husband drives an auto and I did for 10 years.  Over here it isn't a requirement to put the handbrake on when stopped, say at traffic lights, but if that is what is required there you can leave the car in "drive" and apply the handbrake.  

My husband is very against the idea of using both feet for negotiating the garage - a very bad habit to get into!  There is no need to use the brake at the same time, as the auto will gear right down to crawling speed and is controlled with the accellerator ! 

When we started driving the autos we tucked our left foot under the seat otherwise it wants to push pedals!!!   Probably the hardest habit to get out of!!

Hope that makes sense to you!! 

I agree entirely CathyML. No need to worry Mick, only three positions for the stick 'P' 'D' & 'R' meaning Park, Drive and Reverse and although there will be other driving positions ie 1 & 2 you will probably never use them.

DON'T use two feet under any circumstances, and you only need to apply the manual handbrake (if it has one, mine is electronic) when you think you are going to be stationary for a while (to give your foot a rest). That's it....simple!

Myself... was taught to never use two feet for driving...because you don't have the added advantage of controling what's going on..if your mind is on one foot each.. and what it's doing. Only time I ever used two feet was in an an non-automatic, going up an steep hill  and taking off from an stop sign... to keep from rolling backwards. I also don't use an hand-brake that often either..unless I'm parked on an slight hillside, in whcih case I turn the wheels toward the curb before applying it..so if the car should roll back, it goes toward the curb first.. I passed my driver's test the first time I took it..at an very young age.  I think how you drive an car, depends on the car, the traffic, the road conditions and the weather. As far as driving goes, the old adage of keeping stopping space between you and the car ahead of you is good advice...but not at stop signals...esp the ones geared to count the cars before turning the light. My husband taught me to drive years ago..I was 15 years old then..he taught my son how to drive an tractor at age 10..though my son has had commerical truck driving lessons since then. He also drives ATV's.My grandkids have driven ATV's since about age 6 on thier own....generally at the beach in the sand though and with smaller Atv's geared for kids...same for sport bikes.

I wouldn't dream of doing 1--in gear with foot on brake. If your foot comes off the brake, your car is going one direction into 1) the vehicle in front, or if you're first at the lights, into any crossing pedestrians or possibly traffic crossing the junction. Likely find an endorse able offence being then committed---failure to stop at a red light.

Option 2 has the sequence reversed--- first you should apply the handbrake, and then put it in neutral.  And thisvisvthe option I would take, and after driving automatic or semi-automatic buses, this is what I always did and passed two tests, Class 3 and then Class1 doing this.

Their are applications where locking it gearbox in first or second gear on the odd occasion. I.e. descending a steep hill for example, going up a snowy hill, are two examples. 

Thanks for all the comments.  I was not in favour of foot on brake but many web sites do suggest it.  I agree that a rear shunt would be dangerous, as well as blinding others at night with brake lights.

Paul. I prefer Option 2 but my wording was indeed reversed.

Cathy. I believed that two feet operation is wrong but some disagree.  The new car, I am told, will creep but some autos do not.

Ron.  Electronic handbrake ?  Never heard of it but one assumes that one refers to one's Rolls Royce ? !!  As far as I know mine will have a standard lever.

Is it better to knock down to 3rd or use the kick down, I suspect kick down would be wasteful ? 

One's Roll's Royce happens to be a 2010 Citroen Grand C4 Picasso Mick and yes it's true, an electronic handbrake. In other words No Handbrake to pull on and off! See http://www.ipg.de/ESP-EPB-at-PSA.443.0.html if your interested.

As for your new car Mick just put it in 'D' and drive the 'b' thing!  lol

Thanks Ron, that was interesting regarding the brake on the Citroen.

I am fiercely patriotric and will support the old country, getting another Japanese car, a Suzuki. 

No harm will be done by leaving the gear in drive and applying the hand brake. There is no "disc" involved as the torque converter is a fluid flywheel where the rear vane is driven by the front vane by means of fluid being thrown against it. So stop, apply handbrake (unless your car has an automatic one like Ron's and many others including a VW Passat which I drove in England a few years ago) and relax while waiting for the lights to change.

Two feet driving? Dodgy. The left foot tends be less sensitive and will apply the foot brake too viciously especially if it is used to operating a clutch. Unless you are a rally driver where left foot braking, while still applying power is one of the tricks of the trade, tuck the left foot out of the way.

Thanks Syd.  The disc reference was concen about keeping the foot on the brake, some say it can warp the disc.

 I am going to use the handbrake and will not use both feet as it is regarded as bad practice.  I think keeping the left foot still will be difficult !