British traffic signal lights 1811

Dave

What's your sample space? 80% of the cars in NZ are automatic, I would guess.

I use the handbrake 75% of the time for a hill start. The only exceptions are if I anticipate the lights are about to go green (in which case I ride the clutch), or if the hill is so shallow that I can jump my foot from the brake to the throttle with no possibility of trouble.

Even then, it is safer to use the handbrake and have no pedals depressed (as well as being a rest for your legs), and I was taught to do that in my official driving lessons. I know a guy who was stopped at lights using your method, and suddenly sneezed and involuntarily let up the clutch, causing him to hit the guy in front.

Also I bet I could take off from a stationary position with the handbrake on, far faster than you could with your foot on the regular brake (since that was the original topic under discussion). Even an automatic with LFB would be faster than your method.

What method are you using of measuring the difference? An accurate way would be to drain your tank, put in a measured amount of fuel, then idle until it runs out. Repeat, but stand on the brake in D until it runs out. Compare times.