What Are the Effects of Occasionally Forgetting to Release the Handbrake?
1 Answers
Occasionally forgetting to release the handbrake while driving won't have a significant impact, but doing so over a long period can adversely affect the vehicle's braking system and tires. Damage to the Braking System: Driving with the handbrake engaged directly accelerates wear on the brake discs and causes the brake pads to harden due to overheating, as well as stretching the handbrake cable, leading to reduced braking performance. The burnt smell sometimes noticed by drivers comes from this, and in severe cases, smoke may emerge from the rear of the vehicle. Prolonged driving with the handbrake engaged can also cause the brake calipers to seize, brake fluid to leak, and the brake fluid temperature to rise excessively, resulting in a loss of braking function. Accelerated Tire Wear: Driving with the handbrake engaged increases the vehicle's rolling resistance, thereby accelerating tire wear and shortening the lifespan of the tires. Emergency Measures: If you encounter a situation where you are driving with the handbrake engaged and notice a strong burnt smell or smoke coming from the rear of the vehicle, you should immediately slow down, brake, and release the handbrake. Do not continue driving; instead, pull over to the side of the road, wait for the vehicle to cool down, and carefully inspect for any other abnormalities.
