while my car was being repaired a few weeks ago I was given a Fiat 500 as a loaner

I thought the damn thing kept stalling as I came to traffic lights but I soon realized, as I came to traffic lights, put the car in neutral and released the clutch the engine shut down, and then started up again as I depressed the clutch.

spooky lil car.

I always put it into N if I'm stopping at traffic lights, never in P unless i'm gonna get out of the car and turn the engine off. I don't know if it has any benefit but I don't want to be pressing the brake all the time while I'm stopping to rein the raging car and stop it from moving forward...

If you check all manual books for automatic cars you will find the proper way to stop and hold on a light is to just press the brake and keep it in D and never change into N.

Errr....What are we doing wrong?

Most of us already have, therefore the question of whether or not we would pass is purely academic

When I did my test in the UK, it was a case of drive around a bit, park, turn in the road, slam the anchors on when the examiner hit the dashboard, and answer 10 random questions related to the highway code.

I very much doubt that I would pass the UK test as it stands today - at least not first time.

How many people have actually seen an example of a car rolling away because the handbrake failed? When I had a 1986 mini it had to odd problem on steep hills when the car was loaded, but I would have thought that with modern cars the handbrake should have no issues holding the car without the aid of having it in gear.

There is an aversion to ever using a gandbrake as it may freeze when parked in Winter!

Handbrakes are fine, until you get something 'fixed' at the garage & the fail to put it back properly!

That's how you learn it in driving school (at least in Germany). Handbrake is for parking and for starting on very steep roads.

When Starting - Flick the gear into neutral (it will have been in first or reverse while parked). Clutch in and start. (May also press the footbrake if the car demands it - they're bossy buggers these days).

Traffic lights - If I'm going to be aiting then handbrake on, neutral until it's about time for them to change then clutch in 1st gear while I wait. Otherwise stay in 1st, clutch in and either handbrake or footbrake depending on my whim at the time.

Stop Signs - Rarely do I put handbrake on, though I had to when I was taking lessons and test. I'd probably only put it on when I was on a hill and hanging around too long for clutch control.

Though I have to admit, I'm not really sure what I do. I just do it subconsciously these days.

There's a difference between techniques taught in the UK and continental Europe. In the UK, car in neutral, handbrake engaged, continental Europe, foot on brake, car in gear, left foot on clutch.
I now own a hybrid and you have to put your foot on the brake pedal to engage D (or R).
I never bother with the handbrake unless I'm on a steep hill.

We were taught handbrake at traffic lights 'cos if you get rear ended there's a good chance that your foot will come off the brake and you coast onto the middle of crass traffic. And die.

When we had a manual, I always left it parked in gear and started with the clutch depressed, in fact it wouldn't start without the clutch depressed (oddly enough, I've never seen a happy clutch, but that's another conversation).

Now we drive an automatic, I just put my foot on the brake and leave it in D at traffic lights/junctions.

I learned in the UK, and I always thought that putting it in neutral was classed as not being in control of the car, so whilst driving (not parking) you should leave it in gear even when stopped at some lights with the handbrake on? Or did I mishear that bit?

My current driving style is to use the handbrake at most traffic lights, particularly as most traffic lights in Zurich (at least on my drive home) are located at the top of or mid-way up ridiculously steep hills. I give it 3 months before I'll need the handbrake re-tightened. Oh, and I always put it in first and leave the clutch depressed, ready to engage and drive away when the lights change.

As for parking, I do it like I was taught to, stop, gear in neutral, handbrake on, engine off. I only leave it in gear when parked if parking on a slope, then I turn the wheels towards the kerb, leave it in gear and use the handbrake.

My current style is:
- start driving: handbrake off
- finish driving: handbrake on
- Everything inbetween: normal brakes.

But I'm naughty that way.

My father taught me to start in neutral if for any reason your foot slips off the clutch or the clutch fails you don't want to jump forward. Also in neutral at lights as he taught me use the clutch as little as possible, it's cheaper to replace new brakes than a clutch or gears.

I think the teaching was rather that having the car in neutral is classified as not being in control and therefore you must apply the handbrake when in neutral to retain control.

You pick up a hire car in the UK and you will find the gearstick in neutral and the handbrake up. Pick up a car in Switzerland, or Continental Europe and its always in gear. I've lost count of the times I've started the engine only for the car to lurch forward and almost smack into a wall or the car infront. Having to depress the clutch to start the engine doesn't help because as soon as you let go the car is in gear

I was always told to start with the clutch in. (Dad not instructor... just because it's what you have to do to pass the test doesn't make it the most practical option )

Common sense really, as this thread illustrates - lots of people leave cars in gear, saves those embarrassing lurch into the thing in front moments.

I did my training and test in Switzerland last year. Not once was I told to use the handbrake (except when parking). Car was always left in gear as well at lights and at the end. Passed the test without a problem.

I was taught to always do a full check of any car that wasn't last driven by me or am borrowing. Mirrors, gears, breaks headlights etc. Oil and tires etc for longer trips even in own car but I guess that's something everyone does anyway, right, right?

I'm not sure if I understand you correctly, but when you are stopped for a short amount of time I don't understand why you would engage the handbrake/parking brake and put the car in neutral. Keeping the clutch pedal depressed, thereby disengaging the clutch would only require one movement while shifting to neutral and engaging the parking brake would require two movements (most likely) and may result in reducing the life of your clutch.

When I drive, for no other reason than habit, I only use the handbrake when parked or when stopped at a train crossing (with the engine off).

When I start the car I usually have the handbrake engaged, the clutch to the floor and the gearbox in neutral...maybe it is a little "belt and suspenders" but out of habit I always start like this "just in case" there is a problem with the transmission.

BTW, using the handbrake at a stop sign sounds archaic to me...as archaic as the steering wheel positioning of "10 and 2" (flat out wrong since the adoption of airbags, even before airbags I question its necessity).