Technical Hill Start Control

[JayAre]

@JayAre I think you are overthinking this Just drive as you would "normally" the hill hold function just gives a little extra "brake on" time between foot off the brake and rolling backwards or forwards when you are stationary on a hill; it adds some hysteresis (maybe latency or delay is/are better descriptors?) to the brakes releasing. Try playing with it on a quiet (sloping) bit of road, stop dead with foot on brake, release brake and observe the two second dwell with brakes on - then the car rolls. As stated already there is a point at which it does not engage (shallower slopes). It's really a lazy mans (persons) hill start.

Thanks and you’re probably right!
I think I’ve been focusing on the words (earlier) “depress clutch and leave in gear”
This is obviously not a good idea while waiting eg at junctions (or indeed traffic lights) where the waiting time may be unknown

Stopping with the foot brake (as you would anyway) while de-clutching +shifting into neutral (again, as you would do anyway) is fine. And (if I’ve understood correctly) 2 states may exist where h/h operates:
1. release footbrake (still in neutral) and the car will remain braked (for c2 secs) while you select 1st gear +move off in the normal way?
or
2. de-clutch, select 1st gear, transfer right foot to the accelerator (car remains braked) +move off in the normal way.

However, I think I’ll have my hand hovering above the h/brake just in case…

Btw I checked the glare issue (holding the car on the footbrake). Assuming the car keeps the brake lights on in the above 2 states this technically breaches the Highway Code R114:
“Rule 114
You MUST NOT
use any lights in a way which would dazzle or cause discomfort to other road users… In stationary queues of traffic, drivers should apply the parking brake and, once the following traffic has stopped, take their foot off the footbrake to deactivate the vehicle brake lights. This will minimise glare to road users behind until the traffic moves again.”

However, it would surely be a brave (stupid?) prosecutor who put such a motorist in court for using a feature now common and known to regulators, lawmakers and the “justice” system…

OTOH it might be considerate not to use this feature on a dark rainy night when glare is at its worst (assuming the brake lights do indeed remain on - I’m not clear on this)

 

[Rambling7325]

Thanks and you’re probably right!
I think I’ve been focusing on the words (earlier) “depress clutch and leave in gear”
This is obviously not a good idea while waiting eg at junctions (or indeed traffic lights) where the waiting time may be unknown

Stopping with the foot brake (as you would anyway) while de-clutching +shifting into neutral (again, as you would do anyway) is fine. And (if I’ve understood correctly) 2 states may exist where h/h operates:
1. release footbrake (still in neutral) and the car will remain braked (for c2 secs) while you select 1st gear +move off in the normal way?
or
2. de-clutch, select 1st gear, transfer right foot to the accelerator (car remains braked) +move off in the normal way.

However, I think I’ll have my hand hovering above the h/brake just in case…

Btw I checked the glare issue (holding the car on the footbrake). Assuming the car keeps the brake lights on in the above 2 states this technically breaches the Highway Code R114:
“Rule 114
You MUST NOT
use any lights in a way which would dazzle or cause discomfort to other road users… In stationary queues of traffic, drivers should apply the parking brake and, once the following traffic has stopped, take their foot off the footbrake to deactivate the vehicle brake lights. This will minimise glare to road users behind until the traffic moves again.”

However, it would surely be a brave (stupid?) prosecutor who put such a motorist in court for using a feature now common and known to regulators, lawmakers and the “justice” system…

OTOH it might be considerate not to use this feature on a dark rainy night when glare is at its worst (assuming the brake lights do indeed remain on - I’m not clear on this)

Re highway code. I think, as you say, this only applies when you can cause glare to other road users which is generally only at night. Best to use the handbrake when driving at night.

 

[Panda IIs]

However, I think I’ll have my hand hovering above the h/brake just in case…

Btw I checked the glare issue (holding the car on the footbrake). Assuming the car keeps the brake lights on in the above 2 states this technically breaches the Highway Code R114:
“Rule 114
You MUST NOT
use any lights in a way which would dazzle or cause discomfort to other road users… In stationary queues of traffic, drivers should apply the parking brake and, once the following traffic has stopped, take their foot off the footbrake to deactivate the vehicle brake lights. This will minimise glare to road users behind until the traffic moves again.”

However, it would surely be a brave (stupid?) prosecutor who put such a motorist in court for using a feature now common and known to regulators, lawmakers and the “justice” system…

OTOH it might be considerate not to use this feature on a dark rainy night when glare is at its worst (assuming the brake lights do indeed remain on - I’m not clear on this)

Well I think the reflex would be to use the handbrake the moment you feel the car rolling, I am sure that is a "proverbial" hovering ?

On the dazzling thing; consider the situation when driving an automatic, very few auto drivers slip the car to neutral and apply the handbrake - this is why handbrake fails at MOT time on automatics are relatively common - the handbrakes just don't get used. The highway code promotes best practice but some of the detail is rarely observed in my experience! (There are two automatics in our family circle, both have had MOT fails on seized handbrake mechs.)

 

[Jerseywurzel]

I think it's brilliant!
However, to my mind, it's only intended for a short stop. Any longer than, say 20 seconds and you should use your handbrake, as the highway code says, to avoid blinding cars behind you.
But for a short stop, brake on, neutral gear, then gear, release brake, then drive, it's absolutely brilliant and one of the best features you could have.