In the UAE, the standard and safest practice is to release the handbrake only after you have shifted the gear selector into 'Drive' (D) or 'Reverse' (R) for automatic vehicles, and have confirmed your surroundings are clear. This sequence, emphasized by local driving schools like EDI and Galadari, prioritizes preventing accidental vehicle movement in the UAE's heavy stop-and-go traffic, such as on Sheikh Zayed Road during rush hour, rather than just preventing rollback on inclines. For the vast majority of automatic transmission cars common here—from the Toyota Land Cruiser to the Nissan Sunny—the correct procedure is: start the engine (with foot on the brake), select D or R, then release the handbrake while your foot remains on the brake, before gently applying throttle. RTA Dubai's official driving guidelines reinforce this order as a fundamental safety step. A secondary, practical reason for this sequence in the UAE's climate is to ensure the parking brake is fully disengaged before moving; during the intense summer heat above 45°C, parking brakes, especially drum-in-hat types on SUVs like the Patrol, can sometimes stick slightly if the car has been stationary. Releasing it after the drivetrain is engaged provides a gentle check. Following this procedure universally is a key part of defensive driving taught in the UAE.
- Standard UAE Procedure: Foot on brake → Start → Select gear (D/R) → Release handbrake → Move.
- Primary Safety Reason: Prevents unintended creeping in dense traffic, a more common hazard than hills in much of the UAE.
- Climate Consideration: Ensures the handbrake is free before applying power, reducing the risk of a stuck brake due to heat or dust.
