parking in gear

[ted_e_bear]

Wow, I thought I could rely on coming to this site to get away from reading the sorts of shite that people put on Facebook.

[ted_e_bear]

why do automatic cars have "park" ?

It locks the transmission, is that similar to putting the vehicle into gear as regards an extra level of preventing the vehicle from moving whilst parked ?

The very issue that you started this thread to complain about.

[PO123]

Sorry you're in a bad mood no1postie but you're still wrong. It's an extra layer of safety so why wouldn't you do it?

I've been taught from a young age to depress the clutch and give the gear stick a wobble to see if it's in gear or in neutral. I do it now without thinking, what ever vehicle I jump in. Its really simple stuff. Get a grip of yourself.

[POSTMAN]

LTB 025/19 – Royal Mail Group – Handbrake Safety and Avoiding Vehicle Roll Away Accidents: (RMG SHE Safety Alert – GP SA 2019 001 Vehicle Roll-Away)

[TrueBlueTerrier]

hi , you are wrong again, if a motor vehicle has a inefficient hand break, it should fail the MOT and it should not be on the road, and penalties served for an unroadworthy vehicle. PARK IN NEUTRAL. thats what its for. as a side interest, what would happen if we were given automatics like in the US and they cant use a "stick shift" (tell them to leave it in gear) dread to think, shallow who think they know it all, only been driving for 5 years

and how shallow are you that you descend to calling people names just because they disagree with you.

You are correct on one point when I passed my test (early 80s) we were told to park out of gear.............. But we were also told to depress the clutch when starting a manual car just in case it was in gear.

[VeteranBitterPostie]

It's company policy and good practice in general. If something happens then you're sacked plus YOUR licence and freedom are on the line if you injure or kill some one becasue of it.

[RTP]

now, we all have a preference regarding parking in gear or in neutral. i'm not saying i'm right (yet) i have researched the highway code and police advice and have not yet found any evidence to support leaving a vehicle in gear is correct. i have been on the road for about 50 years man and boy. when i met people who left their car in gear, i assumed the car was not serviced or maintained properly as handbrake efficency is part of an MOT. what pisses me off is when i get in a van and some twat has left it in gear for me. worse than that on a van share, we have to park and walk, and swap over, not dissing my buddy, but when i get in the van in a hurry and some twat has parked their posh car 1/2 from our front bumper and i lurch foreward, no tears yet, fingers crossed. royal mail keep pushing this s**t about leave in gear, turn wheels to kerb, etc. because they know the vans are all knackered and people in decent vans are too busy to remember the basics, like putting on the handbrake. please leave it in neutral, thats what it's for.

Probably one of the most stupid posts I've read on here. When you passed your test you probably didn't need to wear a seatbelt back then.. Go figure.

[yellowbelly]

......but when i get in the van in a hurry ..............

royal mail keep pushing this s**t about leave in gear, turn wheels to kerb, etc..............

.............people in decent vans are too busy to remember the basics, like putting on the handbrake. please leave it in neutral, thats what it's for.

So when you get in (or out) of the van in a hurry might you one day forget to apply the handbrake correctly?

The Highway Code is even 'pushing this s**t' - rule 252 (and yes it says hills but it doesn't take a van
to be parked up the side of Ben Nevis for a rollaway to start, I've seen it happen in a yard which is to
all intents and purposes virtually flat):

Rule 252
Parking on hills. If you park on a hill you should:

park close to the kerb and apply the handbrake firmly
select a forward gear and turn your steering wheel away from the kerb when facing uphill
select reverse gear and turn your steering wheel towards the kerb when facing downhill
use ‘park’ if your car has an automatic gearbox.

Maybe we should all just take a few seconds more when parking up/driving off?

[priority102]

Why have you made such a big thing out of something so miniscule?

If it's company policy to leave it in gear, then you have 2 choices:

1 - do it.
2 - don't do it and risk suspension/sacking if caught. They will love you for choosing option 2!

What is it with a small minority of RM employees that whatever is put in place, they have to find every reason not to do it?

Given how many roll-aways have happened over the years, being mandated to leave it in gear is on your side!

A roll-away can cause damage, injury, even death. A handbrake is just a piece of wire that can snap, not being in gear means the van will roll away.

Concentrate on worrying about your snow shovel!

[Ali831]

When I was taught to drive I was always told to check the car was in neutral before starting it. As already mentioned many modern cars won't even start unless the clutch is deployed. Sounds like you need to do a simple neutral check which takes a split second before starting any vehicle or at least press the clutch in. Remind me not to park anywhere near you.

[postieblueshirt]

Done my way to much share of rural driving.So drive up to house farm whatever bring van to stop clutch in then into first gear handbrake on engine off deliver letter back in van clutch in start engine release handbrake drive to next house repeat 100s of times a day....

[Foxel]

Which one of you signs for the van keys? That's only person that should drive, if you havnt signed for the van keys and you have a bump, good luck

I've seen lots of routes which require both parties to drive, they've probably evolved that way. On the PDA you are meant to add a second driver in that scenario.

[pieoftheday]

Which one of you signs for the van keys? That's only person that should drive, if you havnt signed for the van keys and you have a bump, good luck

I've seen lots of routes which require both parties to drive, they've probably evolved that way. On the PDA you are meant to add a second driver in that scenario.

It just shows how different offices work, it's a no no at ours

[Pidleypoo]

Which one of you signs for the van keys? That's only person that should drive, if you havnt signed for the van keys and you have a bump, good luck

I've seen lots of routes which require both parties to drive, they've probably evolved that way. On the PDA you are meant to add a second driver in that scenario.

It just shows how different offices work, it's a no no at ours

Because you’re not allowed to.

Unless someone can produce and updated ssow on this.

Never known 2 people to be allowed to drive the same van on p&l.

[sindba]

Sorry no1postie, you are dead wrong on this.

Like others have said, parking in gear isnt just company policy, it's good practice genereally.

And starting the engine without checking the vehicle is in neutral is just bad driving. In fact you're so wrong it sounds like you might need coaching or driver re-training.