What Are the Hazards of Driving Without Releasing the Handbrake?
2 Answers
Driving without releasing the handbrake can lead to significant brake wear, increased risk of traffic accidents, and vehicle rollovers. Significant Brake Wear: Driving with the handbrake engaged directly accelerates wear on the brake discs, causes the brake pads to harden due to overheating, and stretches the handbrake cable. This results in reduced braking performance and, in severe cases, may cause smoke to emanate from the rear of the vehicle. Prolonged driving with the handbrake engaged can also lead to seized brake calipers, brake fluid leaks, and excessively high brake fluid temperatures. If you find yourself driving with the handbrake engaged and notice a strong burning smell or smoke from the rear, immediately reduce speed, apply the brakes, and release the handbrake. Do not continue driving; instead, pull over, allow the vehicle to cool down, and inspect for any other abnormalities. Traffic Accidents: Forgetting to engage the handbrake while stopped on a slope is extremely dangerous. If the driver focuses solely on accelerating and releasing the clutch while neglecting the foot brake, the vehicle may roll backward, leading to an accident. Therefore, if the vehicle starts rolling backward while stopped on a slope, remain calm, quickly apply the foot brake to halt the vehicle, and then gently engage the handbrake. Vehicle Rollover: In high-speed driving or sharp turns, pulling the handbrake abruptly to decelerate during an emergency is a common misconception. In reality, this is incorrect and highly hazardous. The handbrake primarily controls the speed of the rear wheels. However, at high speeds, its braking force is minimal. If the handbrake is applied while driving at high speed, it can easily lock the rear wheels, snap the handbrake cable, and cause the vehicle to skid or even roll over.
Driving with the handbrake on is most damaging to the brake pads and discs. These components are forcibly dragged and rubbed, producing a burnt smell and even emitting blue smoke. Last time at the auto repair shop, I saw a car towed in because the owner forgot to release the handbrake and drove for seven or eight kilometers, causing the brake discs to wear grooves and become completely ruined. More dangerously, high temperatures can cause the brake fluid to boil and create air bubbles, making the brake pedal feel soft and unresponsive, like stepping on cotton. Prolonged driving like this can also melt the rubber oil seals of the brake calipers, and repairs would involve more than just replacing the brake pads. Especially on downhill sections, driving with the handbrake on is like continuously torturing the braking system.
