Don't new cars have handbrakes ? ...

[dogtag]

Seems like a weird question, but the reason I ask is -
there's a traffic light near me that from red to green
takes close to five minutes, yet every car in front of
mine has it's stop lights on. When people park their
auto-trans cars the stick it in park, even on hills.
It's asking for trouble. Why not use the handbrake ?
I imagine this woman exited her car while it was in drive,
or maybe 'park' wasn't properly engaged. Whatever the
cause, it's a needless death.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...h-got-car.html

[Major Tom]

No "handbrake" in my car. But, there is a button on center console to engage/release parking brake.

[JB White]

A case where what sounds like common sense is technically in conflict with some laws. In many States it is illegal to disengage from gear while in traffic with the engine running. The purpose is to prevent a running vehicle from being left without a driver in control. Also, at intersections and train crossings etc. to let approaching drivers know that traffic ahead of them is stopped via brake lights.
Now, figure some latter day parking brakes automatically disengage when a car is in gear it's fairly easy to understand.

The hand brake/parking brake (It isn't a freakin' emergency brake!) is only meant as an additional safety when parking on inclines. I was taught the main safety was to put the vehicle into a proper gear with the wheels turned in the proper direction depending upon which way it is facing on the grade. Again, it's tougher to do in newer cars with automatic transmissions with column shifts and steering column locks. Can't get the key out.