4 Times You Should Be Using Your Emergency Brake

Nov 10, 2016

When to Use Your Emergency Brakes Charlotte, NC Most people believe that the parking brake only needs to be used for cars with an automatic transmission on rare occasions, like parking on a steep hill or maybe when the car is getting service. That is not the case. In fact, you should get in the habit of using your parking brake every day.

1) Your Vehicle is a Standard Shift

If your car or truck has a manual transmission, then you probably know that you should always engage the emergency brake when the vehicle stops. You also need to put the transmission in gear if you park on a hill, but even on a level road, this is a good habit to get into. It is important to apply the emergency brake first, then place it in gear.

If your car is facing uphill, put it in first gear and turn wheels to the left. This way, if the car should roll, it will roll into the curb. If you are facing downhill, put it in reverse and turn your wheels toward the curb. None of this guarantees that your car won’t slide downhill, especially if the road is icy or if your clutch is worn, but these tips greatly reduce the chances.

2) Your Vehicle Has an Automatic Transmission

First, just as with a standard transmission, it is important to apply the emergency brake before placing the car in gear or park in this case. Shift into neutral, apply the parking brake, and then put it in park. Few people use the emergency brake when parking a car with an automatic transmission on level ground because they believe it is unnecessary. However, if you don’t regularly use the parking brake, its key components are more likely to rust. This may cause the emergency brake to fail just when you need it most.

3) In an Emergency

Obviously, it is called an emergency brake for a reason. It is a mechanical backup to your power brakes. Because it is a very simple system, there are few things that can go wrong to prevent it from working in an emergency, except for rust from not being used, as previously noted. If you are unfortunate enough to need the emergency brake while moving, there are a couple of things you should remember. Do not just apply the brake as fast as possible, even though that is your first instinct. Instead, engage the brake gradually and steadily.

4) While Working on Your Vehicle

The parking brake only locks the rear wheels of your car. So, if you plan to jack the automobile up to change the oil, for example, apply the brake first. Because the rear wheels lock when the brake engages, you won’t be able to use it with all repairs. In this situation, be sure to securely chock the wheels that are touching the ground.

Until it becomes habit, remembering to release the parking brake before driving will be difficult. Apply a sticky note where you can’t miss it as a reminder until you get into the swing.