What to Do If You Forget to Release the Handbrake While Driving?
2 Answers
Driving without releasing the handbrake can cause significant damage to the car. The most direct harm of driving with the handbrake engaged is accelerated wear of the brake discs, hardening of the brake pads due to heat, and stretching of the handbrake cable, which can lead to a decrease in braking performance. If the vehicle you are driving is a manual transmission, starting the car without releasing the handbrake will make it prone to stalling. This is actually a sign reminding you that the handbrake is not released, even in manual transmission vehicles with an electronic handbrake. It can be said that this is one of the advantages of manual transmission cars. If you are driving an automatic transmission car, it can be even more troublesome than a manual transmission. If you start the car without releasing the handbrake, you will noticeably feel that the speed does not increase, and you might even smell a burning odor after driving for a while. After such an issue occurs, most brake pads will fail. Of course, the possibility of damage to other components of the braking system cannot be ruled out. Therefore, before starting the car, always check whether the handbrake is released or fully released.
Last time when I was driving to my friend's house, I forgot to release the handbrake, which made the whole journey quite stressful. The car acceleration was noticeably sluggish, the throttle felt weak, and I even smelled a slight burning odor. Realizing something was wrong, I immediately slowed down gradually and pulled over to avoid greater risks from sudden braking. After stopping, I checked the dashboard and saw the handbrake warning light was on. I promptly engaged and then fully released the handbrake, letting the vehicle cool down for about half an hour. After cooling, I drove to a nearby repair shop for inspection. The technician said there was slight wear on the brake discs, but timely handling prevented major issues. Since then, I've developed a habit of checking the handbrake position before starting the car and learned to observe dashboard warning lights. I suggest friends who encounter similar situations not to panic—just pull over slowly and check. Regular practice for prevention is also helpful.
