What is the significance of having both P gear and electronic handbrake simultaneously?
2 Answers
In automobiles, any device related to critical safety is generally designed with two or more sets to prevent the vehicle from losing control if one system fails. For example, the braking system of a car includes four types of braking devices: service brake, parking brake, emergency brake, and auxiliary brake. Parking Brake System: Both the P gear and handbrake in a car belong to the parking brake system. They work together after the vehicle stops to ensure the car remains reliably parked in place. Additionally, they complement each other; if one system fails, the other can still function, preventing the car from rolling away, thus serving as a dual safety measure. Parking Brake Cable: There are two key components that determine whether the handbrake can function effectively. One is the parking brake cable, commonly known as the "handbrake cable," which is made of a steel wire rope. If it breaks or is adjusted too loosely, it cannot pull the brake pads to clamp the brake disc and generate braking force, resulting in parking brake failure.
I always engage the P (Park) gear and activate the electronic parking brake when parking my car. The P gear locks the transmission to prevent the vehicle from moving, but relying solely on it on slopes can put excessive stress on the transmission, potentially causing failure. The electronic parking brake, on the other hand, directly brakes the wheels, providing a second line of defense to ensure stable parking. For instance, I once tested parking on a steep slope using only the P gear, and the car slightly slid, nearly causing an accident. Since then, I’ve made it a habit to use both as a dual safety measure. Safety is the top priority—any unintended vehicle movement could lead to accidents or damage car components. Therefore, using both is a smart design by automotive engineers to handle different road conditions. I recommend everyone adopt this practice, especially when driving in urban or mountainous areas, as an extra layer of protection brings peace of mind. Modern cars even feature smart integration, such as automatically releasing the electronic parking brake when shifting to D (Drive) gear, but this doesn’t mean you should become complacent—actively using both is the safest approach.
