# Do you use your car's parking/emergency brake daily? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 10, 2012, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-your-cars-parking-emergency-brake-daily/618413 "2012-04-10T22:43:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-your-cars-parking-emergency-brake-daily/618413/21 "2012-04-11T01:21:19Z")
I always do it, almost subconsciously. It’s how I was taught and it’s a habit that’s as ingrained as using turn signals or looking in the mirror before pulling out from the curb. I’ve never watched what others do (why would I?), so I guess I assumed everyone does it. ---
**Author:** ![GreedySmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a698b9/32.png) [@GreedySmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreedySmurf)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-your-cars-parking-emergency-brake-daily/618413/22 "2012-04-11T01:28:38Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > Yeah, whatever. I don’t go around acting all amazed that the verb “root” has a profane meaning in Australia. Sorry if I offended. 😕 I was simply trying to share the fact, that if it wasn’t for this thread (and the board in general on a wide range of topics), I would have just assumed everyone used the handbrake all the time. Sorry for sharing. I’ll stop post haste. ---
**Author:** ![Sister\_Vigilante](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Sister\_Vigilante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sister_Vigilante)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-your-cars-parking-emergency-brake-daily/618413/23 "2012-04-11T01:34:50Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > I always do it, almost subconsciously. It’s how I was taught and it’s a habit that’s as ingrained as using turn signals or looking in the mirror before pulling out from the curb. > > I’ve never watched what others do (why would I?), so I guess I assumed everyone does it. Same here. It just part of parking the car, even if on a totally flat surface in the middle of summer. I do it in my garage where it can’t go anywhere even if “park” failed on me. Hubby never does it and it really bothers me. ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-your-cars-parking-emergency-brake-daily/618413/24 "2012-04-11T01:58:14Z")
It wouldn’t occur to me **not** to put on the handbrake. It’s as automatic to me as turning off the ignition. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-your-cars-parking-emergency-brake-daily/618413/25 "2012-04-11T02:02:06Z")
I’ve only driven cars with automatic transmissions in fairly flat cities, so I almost never use the parking brake. And every time I’ve used it, I’ve forgotten to disengage it. Every. Time. ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-your-cars-parking-emergency-brake-daily/618413/26 "2012-04-11T02:02:36Z")
I set the parking brake when I took my driver’s test, because it was a required step to avoid failing the test. I haven’t used it again since. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-your-cars-parking-emergency-brake-daily/618413/27 "2012-04-11T02:03:02Z")
Question to all of you Australians calling it the “handbrake”: do you not have cars in Australia with pedal-operated parking brakes? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-your-cars-parking-emergency-brake-daily/618413/28 "2012-04-11T03:02:29Z")
I’ve pretty much always owned manuals, so I’ve always used the parking brake. In the winter you have to keep an eye on it so it doesn’t ice up, but it’s good protection in case the stick gets bumped and the car drops out of gear. On my GF’s automatic it’s a foot pedal, but we always use it on that car as well. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-your-cars-parking-emergency-brake-daily/618413/29 "2012-04-11T03:26:04Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > using the parking/hand brake periodically can adjust your rear brake mechanism. > [@Christopher\_Robin\_Davies](#): > > What do you mean? Are you trying to say using the parking brake every time you park can cause the rear brake to be malajusted? You are not being clear I am afraid. engaging the parking brake can operate adjusting mechanisms that adjust for wear on brake components. depends on your cars particulars. ---
**Author:** ![Marconi\_N.Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Marconi\_N.Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marconi_N.Cheese)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-your-cars-parking-emergency-brake-daily/618413/30 "2012-04-11T03:28:23Z")
I only use mine for drifting around corners and break-checking tailgaters. j/k I’ve got an auto and I use the brake every time I park. It’s a habit, like wearing a seatbelt. Mine is the handbrake style, not the pedal type. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-your-cars-parking-emergency-brake-daily/618413/31 "2012-04-11T03:34:34Z")
Just a quick data point. In all my years of working on cars I have seen two or maybe three cars with broken parking pawls. Spread over 40+ years, I can say that this problem is very rare. not unknown, but damn rare. I have on the other hand seen dozens and dozens (maybe hundreds) of cars that have had the e-brake left on either wearing out the rear brakes prematurely, or causing other issues. This driver created problem is much much more common. ---
**Author:** ![PandaBear77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@PandaBear77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PandaBear77)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-your-cars-parking-emergency-brake-daily/618413/32 "2012-04-11T03:35:08Z")
I’ll use mine if parking on a hill, otherwise no. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-your-cars-parking-emergency-brake-daily/618413/33 "2012-04-11T03:53:49Z")
I currently drive a stick. I use the parking brake every single time I park the car, without exception. The first car I ever owned was an automatic. I used the parking brake every single time I parked the car, without exception. I’ve had a number of other cars in between. On those I used the parking brake every single time I parked the car, without exception. I heard the same episode of Car Talk; before that episode, it never occurred to me that there might be people who \*wouldn’t \*use the parking brake every time. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-your-cars-parking-emergency-brake-daily/618413/34 "2012-04-11T04:05:38Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Question to all of you Australians calling it the “handbrake”: do you not have cars in Australia with pedal-operated parking brakes? Brits call it the handbrake too, and I’ve never seen a car in the UK with a pedal-operated emergency or parking brake. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-your-cars-parking-emergency-brake-daily/618413/35 "2012-04-11T04:14:08Z")
You Brits and Aussies would just love my truck- it has a manual transmission and a pedal-operated parking brake. I do use it when I park. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-your-cars-parking-emergency-brake-daily/618413/36 "2012-04-11T04:16:56Z")
I put it on every time, but I learned to drive in the UK. It’s just one of those things American drivers don’t do. The others are indicating when changing lanes or turning, and moving the fuck out of the fast lane when not overtaking anyone. You get used to it. > [@jjimm](#): > > Brits call it the handbrake too, and I’ve never seen a car in the UK with a pedal-operated emergency or parking brake. Most Mercedes models from about 1980 on have pedal-operated hand/parking brakes. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-your-cars-parking-emergency-brake-daily/618413/37 "2012-04-11T04:56:48Z")
> [@GreedySmurf](#): > > The SDMB is a constant source of amazement to me, that repeatedly confirms the great line from Pulp Fiction ‘_It’s the little differences_’. > > What in the States is apparently called an ‘_Emergency_’ brake is simply the handbrake in Australia. And regardless of Manual or Auto transmission, you are taught to engage it whenever you park the car, period. Depending upon how anal your driving instructor is, you may also be taught to engage it when sitting at the lights. Not that I do, but when learning it is probably good, even if just to get more practice with a hill start. (which is a standard ‘must complete’ part of the driving test over here) [Of course this is all based on learning to drive some _mumble_ 20 something _mumble_ years ago The Smurf speaks for me too. ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-your-cars-parking-emergency-brake-daily/618413/38 "2012-04-11T05:29:13Z")
I live in Colorado Springs, where we have a LOT of hills. A lot of us think that routinely using the parking brake is something that only overly-cautious people do. We routinely park on slopes that you flatlanders would be amazed at. One of my cars has a habit of burning out the brake light on the dashboard. I once burned out the parking brake because of that. (I was parked on an **icy** slope at the time.) I have, on occasion, chocked the wheels with a big stick or rock. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-your-cars-parking-emergency-brake-daily/618413/39 "2012-04-11T05:30:00Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I put it on every time, but I learned to drive in the UK. It’s just one of those things American drivers don’t do. The others are indicating when changing lanes or turning, and moving the fuck out of the fast lane when not overtaking anyone. You get used to it. I’m born, raised, and living in the US and, other than the fast lane thing, which I’ve noticed at times, I have no idea where you got these ideas. Maybe it depends on the part of the country? ---
**Author:** ![GreedySmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a698b9/32.png) [@GreedySmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreedySmurf)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-your-cars-parking-emergency-brake-daily/618413/40 "2012-04-11T06:12:21Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Question to all of you Australians calling it the “handbrake”: do you not have cars in Australia with pedal-operated parking brakes? I’ve seen one or two models here in Australia which has the foot-pedal operated version. I couldn’t recall what models they were, but both times it was a hire car, and I recall the first time sitting in the drivers seat and spending 4-5 minutes looking for the handbrake. :smack: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-your-cars-parking-emergency-brake-daily/618413.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-your-cars-parking-emergency-brake-daily/618413.md?page=3)