What is the difference between parking brake and brake pedal?
2 Answers
The difference between parking brake and brake pedal is that the parking brake is the handbrake; the brake pedal is the foot brake, i.e., the service brake. The parking brake, also known as the handbrake or the parking gear in automatic transmissions, locks the drive shaft or rear wheels. The brake pedal decelerates the vehicle when the driver steps on it. Below is an introduction to the parking brake: 1. The AUTO-HOLD automatic parking function provides precise parking force through a slope sensor controlled by the system. 2. During startup, the parking control unit calculates information from the clutch distance sensor, clutch engagement speed sensor, throttle pedal sensor, etc., and automatically releases the parking brake when the driving force exceeds the running resistance, allowing the car to start smoothly. 3. When driving in urban areas with frequent traffic jams, enabling the AUTO-HOLD automatic parking function prevents stalling when stopping and starting again.
I've been driving for decades. The parking brake is that thing you pull up after parking to prevent the car from rolling away on a slope. I personally think it's more commonly used in manual transmission cars because it can assist in preventing rollback. As for the brake pedal, it's the pedal you press with your right foot to slow down or stop at traffic lights while driving, and it's used very frequently. The core difference lies here: the parking brake only works when the car is stationary to maintain its position, while the brake pedal controls the speed when the car is in motion. If you accidentally confuse them, such as pulling the parking brake while driving, it may lock up the rear wheels and cause skidding, which is quite dangerous. I suggest that beginners develop the habit of first pressing the brake pedal to stabilize the car before engaging the parking brake. Another related point is that some modern cars have electronic parking brakes, which are more convenient with a one-button operation, but the principle remains the same. It's important to check them regularly; if the parking brake is too loose, the car may not stay parked securely. In short, the brake pedal is used more frequently and is directly related to driving safety.
