Ergonomics of handbrake/stop start switch

[uk_friendly_fire]

That's twice so far in 6 weeks I've turned the engine off instead of releasing the electric handbrake, much to my embarrassment and annoyance of following traffic.

Maybe Citroen  needs to re-site them.

Anyone else suffer the same embarrassment?

[Tree]

i never touch my handbrake - it comes off automatically when you pull away either forward or reverse

[uk_friendly_fire]

If you don't manually release the parking brake I can feel the car's rear sit momentarily. This compresses the suspension slightly and must also put force on the braking system before it releases.

I wondered that manual release would be better to reduce wear.

[geoff]

I was waiting in a queue outside my local tip ( recycling centre for the precious ) and I spotted the car in front doing a merry dance every time it tried to move forward - the back end was dipping and compressing the suspension fully each time ! It was taking probably five or six attempts to get the car to move forward.

Not having the dubious pleasure of an electronic handbrake I couldn't say whether it was driver error or a system fault, either way I'm sure the driver wasn't happy I know I wouldn't be.

[boop]

I wondered that manual release would be better to reduce wear.

Absolutely not. Wear at zero speed is virtually inexistent.

[Guanock]

I am also not a great fan of the electric parking brake. But I am finding it gets better with use. I park in a barn where the floor slopes down, so need to reverse uphill on the way out. To enable me to erect the security post behind I have to park about 150mm from the wall.
At first it was a case of too many revs and clutch slipping to prevent any forward motion, but with use I can now ease up the clutch and just dab the throttle, this allows me to reverse out with no throttle at idle speed, just how I like it, modern diesels have loads of torque, so don't need lots of revs.

I now find I have to remember to apply park brake when driving other vehicles!!!!!!

Geoff