What are the dangers of driving without the handbrake engaged?
2 Answers
The dangers of driving without the handbrake engaged include five main points, as detailed below: 1. Accelerated wear of the brake disc; 2. Hardening of the brake pads due to overheating; 3. Seizure of the brake caliper; 4. Complete loss of braking function; 5. Smoke emerging from the rear of the vehicle. Below is some relevant information about the handbrake: 1. The technical term for the handbrake is the auxiliary brake: Unlike the principle of the main brake, it uses a steel cable connected to the rear brake shoes to apply braking force to the vehicle. 2. Long-term use of the handbrake can cause the steel cable to undergo plastic deformation: This deformation is irreversible, so prolonged use will reduce its effectiveness, and the handbrake's travel distance will increase. The handbrake is also equipped with a return spring; when the handbrake is engaged, the spring is stretched, and when the handbrake is released, the spring returns to its original length.
The dangers of not using the parking brake. Over the years, I've encountered similar incidents while driving. Once, I forgot to engage the parking brake when parking at a supermarket, and the car slid away on its own, scraping against a new car nearby, costing me several hundred dollars in repairs. It's even more serious on slopes—the car can roll freely, potentially even tumbling down a hillside, endangering lives. On a rainy day, I parked on a sloped roadside to grab some food, and the car slid toward the middle of the road, nearly getting hit by a truck. Long-term neglect can also wear out the transmission, increasing repair costs. In daily driving, even for brief stops, don't take it lightly. Developing the habit of always using the parking brake protects both yourself and others. Safety comes first—taking an extra second to pull the brake after parking can prevent a lifetime of regret.
