What happens if you drive with the handbrake on?

[BentleyLee]

Driving a short distance with the handbrake on is generally not a problem, but over longer distances, it can cause wear on the brake pads, increased fuel consumption, and other issues. The direct effects include accelerated wear of the brake discs, hardening of the brake pads due to overheating, and elongation of the handbrake cable, all of which can reduce braking performance. The burnt smell you sometimes notice comes from this. Driving with the handbrake on may also lead to the brake calipers seizing, brake fluid leakage, or excessively high brake fluid temperatures, resulting in a complete loss of braking function. 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, apply the brakes, and release the handbrake. Do not continue driving; instead, pull over to the side of the road and wait for the vehicle to cool down.