If properly working, the handbrake ensures that a vehicle does not move of its own accord once it has been stopped. 

As advanced drivers, we seek to minimise as much as possible any risk to ourselves or our vehicles and so the handbrake is a useful tool in our armoury. It can be used to prevent a stationary vehicle from rolling backwards or forwards if the road is not level. It is considered good practice to use the handbrake at STOP signs, during prolonged waits or before selecting 1st or reverse gears (when moving from stationary). If the handbrake is used appropriately then any minor misjudgement of road surface level will not be a problem, which will ensure that any risk is minimised. 

Always remember, advanced drivers are NOT perfect drivers.

By Mark Farnworth