What Are the Effects of Suddenly Pulling the Handbrake While Driving?
1 Answers
Greater wear on the brakes; risk of car fire; impact on engine performance—these are the effects of suddenly pulling the handbrake while driving. The details are as follows: Greater wear on the brakes; the braking system determines the safety of the car. If the handbrake remains engaged for a long time, it can lead to severe wear. Although the handbrake experiences some wear during normal driving, pulling it while driving puts excessive pressure on it, increasing the risk of failure. This can be extremely dangerous if the handbrake is needed in an emergency. Risk of car fire; this is the most severe scenario. The increased friction from driving with the handbrake engaged can generate excessive heat, potentially causing the brake pads to catch fire. Many car fires result from such overlooked details. Therefore, it's crucial to perform thorough checks before driving. Modern cars often come with safety warnings that can detect hazards early. If you smell burning while driving, stop immediately to inspect and prevent further risks. Impact on engine performance; driving with the handbrake engaged increases resistance, requiring more throttle to move the car. This not only affects fuel efficiency but also harms the engine's performance. Similar to driving at low speeds with high throttle, the impact here is even more pronounced. For traditional mechanical handbrakes, frequent use can stretch or fatigue the cable, leading to potential breakage. At low speeds, accidentally pulling the handbrake once or twice may not cause significant harm. However, engaging the handbrake at high speeds can cause the car to skid, posing serious safety risks. Additionally, driving with the handbrake engaged can lead to unnecessary wear on the brake discs or stretching of the cable, further damaging the brake pads. For cars with electronic handbrakes, some are programmed not to respond immediately to a single press of the button. If the electronic handbrake is mistakenly engaged for an extended period during high-speed driving, it will initiate emergency braking but not at full force—instead, it applies slightly reduced braking power. The electronic handbrake system fully engages only when the car's speed drops below a certain threshold (often around 7 km/h). Above this speed, the system applies about 80% of the total braking force, with full intervention occurring below 7 km/h. The handbrake is primarily designed for parking to prevent the car from rolling. Its braking force is much weaker than the foot brake, serving more as a supplementary braking mechanism.
