How to Use the Foot Parking Brake?
2 Answers
Foot parking brake usage method: 1. Preparing to depart: If the vehicle is ready to start driving, the foot parking brake needs to be released. At this time, use the right foot to press the brake pedal, and use the left foot to press the parking foot brake pedal all the way down. Releasing the left foot will cause the parking foot brake pedal to pop up and return to its free state. 2. Preparing to park: After the vehicle stops by pressing the brake pedal, press the foot brake pedal all the way down with the left foot to lock the vehicle. At this point, the foot brake pedal is in its lowest position. Additional information: There are three types of parking brakes: electronic parking brake, foot parking brake, and mechanical handbrake. Both the foot parking brake and mechanical handbrake use mechanical mechanisms to achieve parking brake, while the electronic parking brake uses an electric motor to pull the steel cable to lock the wheels. Compared to the electronic parking brake, the traditional mechanical handbrake has higher stability and reliability, and its failure rate is much lower than that of the electronic parking brake.
Recently, while learning to drive, I encountered a car with a foot-operated parking brake, and my instructor taught me how to use it. First, let me explain the operation: when you want to park, press down hard on the foot pedal brake—it locks the wheels just like a handbrake. To release it, most cars have a small lever or button nearby; just pull it to unlock. At first, I wasn’t used to it because I had always used a handbrake before, and now I had to use my foot. Once, when parking on a slope, I didn’t press firmly enough, and the car slid a short distance, which gave me a scare. So remember to press down hard, especially on inclines, to ensure the car doesn’t move. Before driving off, always check if the foot brake is released—otherwise, you might end up like me last time, driving with the brake engaged for a while and nearly wearing out the brake pads. Actually, once you get used to it, it’s quite convenient—no need to bend over or reach out, and it’s especially hassle-free when wearing gloves in winter. My advice now is to develop a habit of checking before starting the car—it’s safer and more worry-free.
