Sorry... Roadcraft system question again

This question is primarily aimed at Mark Foster, 'MrBitsy' and 'Uno Hoo', and anyone else who advocates the 'you must not change gear while braking' method.

I've been watching these increasingly hostile threads for a while with a certain fascination, as one who owns a copy of Roadcraft from 1987, just after I pbutted my test, but haven't really done more than glance at it from time to time since then.

Yesterday I decided to closely note how I braked and changed gear. I should point out that while I normally drive a 1 year old Golf, this weekend I have a 14 year old Transit van, so perhaps it wasn't the best time to experiment, but anyway...

I discovered that most of the time I naturally do seem to hold the gear I'm in until I've finished braking. Whether I was taught this by my instructor, I really can't remember.

However, what I did notice was that a number of times something like this happened: let's say I'm driving along in 4th gear at about 25mph, in an urban area, a safe distance behind the car in front. He slows down and indicates he is going to turn into a road on the right, and stops due to oncoming traffic. So I start to gently brake, expecting to come to a halt behind him (when I would then be able to select first gear).

But unexpectedly, he turns right - perhaps because someone coming the other way lets him through the traffic. Anyway, the hazard is no longer there, and I'm still braking. What I discovered I did - instinctively if you like - was to change into the gear I needed to accelerate away (say second), but whilst my foot was still on the brake pedal.

By doing this I was able to gently transition from braking to acceleration without any lurches in the middle. The alternative - to take my foot off the brake before selecting second - just doesn't seem as smooth - I don't seem to be as much in control of the vehicle.

I'm aware that a 'sin' I've committed according to the Roadcraft system adherents is to remove one hand from the wheel whilst braking. And of course if the braking had been some kind of emergency I would certainly have kept both hands on the wheel. But it wasn't any kind of emergency; it was all nice and smooth.

Of course, it didn't have to be a car stopping and then unexpectedly moving off again; it could be red traffic lights going green as you approach them, or someone you think is about to step onto a zebra crossing not in fact doing so as you approach, or any one of dozens of similar circumstances.

Looking in my copy of Roadcraft, I note the following:

"14. The first clbutt driver should aim always: (a) To be in the correct gear for every road speed and traffic situation."

and

"17. A lower gear will be selected for one of two reasons: ... (b) On the approach to a hazard when a more responsive gear is required."

and

"19. Common faults relating to the use of gears are: ... (c) Failure to select the correct gear for the existing road speed."

After a skim through the sections of the book, I cannot find anything instructing me not to change down while braking, but I am happy to admit it's in there somewhere if anyone can tell me where!

So. am I a terrible driver?

Hamish