# If driving with your parking brake on is such a BAD thing, why is it so EASY to do? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 21, 2003, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-driving-with-your-parking-brake-on-is-such-a-bad-thing-why-is-it-so-easy-to-do/220304 "2003-12-21T13:26:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-driving-with-your-parking-brake-on-is-such-a-bad-thing-why-is-it-so-easy-to-do/220304/1 "2003-12-21T13:26:57Z")
It seems to me if driving with your parking brake on is such a bad thing then there should be more warning when you inadvertently do it. Bells and whistles should go off or, at the very least, there should be an automated recording that comes on saying “Hey, Dipshit, you’ve got your damn parking brake on!” Why isn’t it more difficult to make this mistake? I can not turn my car off if it is not in park, couldn’t there be a similar device prohibiting you from being able to drive if the brake is on? ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-driving-with-your-parking-brake-on-is-such-a-bad-thing-why-is-it-so-easy-to-do/220304/2 "2003-12-21T13:34:29Z")
May make a hill start in a manual car tricky. ---
**Author:** ![Susanann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@Susanann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susanann)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-driving-with-your-parking-brake-on-is-such-a-bad-thing-why-is-it-so-easy-to-do/220304/3 "2003-12-21T13:35:13Z")
I knew/saw someone that did that, and it started a fire, flames and everything coming from the wheel. I havent used my parking brake since then. You dont need the parking/emergency brake at all, unless your regular brakes fail. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-driving-with-your-parking-brake-on-is-such-a-bad-thing-why-is-it-so-easy-to-do/220304/4 "2003-12-21T13:45:15Z")
Or you’re parked on a steep hill. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-driving-with-your-parking-brake-on-is-such-a-bad-thing-why-is-it-so-easy-to-do/220304/5 "2003-12-21T13:51:41Z")
Probably because the fact that the brake is on is immediately obvious, unless you are used to your car doing 0 - 60 mph in 3 minutes. Is thir really a GQ? ---
**Author:** ![herman\_and\_bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f1d935/32.png) [@herman\_and\_bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/herman_and_bill)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-driving-with-your-parking-brake-on-is-such-a-bad-thing-why-is-it-so-easy-to-do/220304/6 "2003-12-21T13:56:10Z")
Jeeze--------there is a red brake light in your instrument cluster isn’t there? Red lights on your instrument panel means there is a problem, check it out. If your brake is adjusted right your car will do lots of straining to go forward, if it moves at all, altho backwards will be easier. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-driving-with-your-parking-brake-on-is-such-a-bad-thing-why-is-it-so-easy-to-do/220304/7 "2003-12-21T14:18:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by herman\_and\_bill \* > \*\*Jeeze--------there is a red brake light in your instrument cluster isn’t there? Red lights on your instrument panel means there is a problem, check it out. If your brake is adjusted right your car will do lots of straining to go forward, if it moves at all, altho backwards will be easier. \*\* Although the difference is quite clear once I (or the made-up hypothetical person I’m asking this question for) release the Parking Brake, going forward actually isn’t so much of a strain. I am aware of the red lights on the instrument panel- this is why I suggested “more warning”, aware that there already is “some warning”. Unless I’m (he’s) looking right at the instrument panel it’s easy not to notice. ---
**Author:** ![gluteus\_maximus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f17d59/32.png) [@gluteus\_maximus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gluteus_maximus)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-driving-with-your-parking-brake-on-is-such-a-bad-thing-why-is-it-so-easy-to-do/220304/8 "2003-12-21T15:18:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bienville \* > \*\* > I am aware of the red lights on the instrument panel- this is why I suggested “more warning”, aware that there already is “some warning”. Unless I’m (he’s) looking right at the instrument panel it’s easy not to notice. \*\* :rolleyes: Uh, you _are_ aware that they’re called “idiot lights”, right? It’s equally easy to start the engine and drive with the hood up. Well, OK, you _do_ have to squint through that gap between the hinges, but… ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-driving-with-your-parking-brake-on-is-such-a-bad-thing-why-is-it-so-easy-to-do/220304/9 "2003-12-21T15:40:43Z")
Funny you should ask this. I went out to lunch the yesterday and as I left the parking lot a saw a car that was stuck on some ice, with its front wheels spining. I got out of my car and along with some others tried to push the car off the ice. It did move a few feet, but the rear wheels did not rotate, just slid along the ground. It seems the driver forgot to remove the emergency brake and that is why it would not move. Once he took off the emergency brake the car moved off the ice with no problem.:smack: Goes to show you that some people should not be allowed to reproduce. ---
**Author:** ![Thin\_Ice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aeb1de/32.png) [@Thin\_Ice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thin_Ice)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-driving-with-your-parking-brake-on-is-such-a-bad-thing-why-is-it-so-easy-to-do/220304/10 "2003-12-21T15:46:54Z")
Seems to me if you can move at all with your parking brake on then it’s not applying strong enough or you aren’t applying it strong enough. ---
**Author:** ![gluteus\_maximus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f17d59/32.png) [@gluteus\_maximus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gluteus_maximus)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-driving-with-your-parking-brake-on-is-such-a-bad-thing-why-is-it-so-easy-to-do/220304/11 "2003-12-21T16:05:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by norinew \* > \*\* > > Goes to show you that some people should not be allowed to reproduce. \*\* Nah… let 'em reproduce all they want. Just don’t let 'em drive. Let 'em take the bus. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-driving-with-your-parking-brake-on-is-such-a-bad-thing-why-is-it-so-easy-to-do/220304/12 "2003-12-21T16:21:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Thin Ice \* > \*\*Seems to me if you can move at all with your parking brake on then it’s not applying strong enough or you aren’t applying it strong enough. \*\* I agree. Most of the times I have moved with my parking brake on, it’s because the brake was only half-engaged. If you give it a proper tug (I’m talking handbrakes here), then it should be pretty noticeable that your car has suddenly experienced a drop in performance. ---
**Author:** ![RadioOrange](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a9adbd/32.png) [@RadioOrange](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RadioOrange)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-driving-with-your-parking-brake-on-is-such-a-bad-thing-why-is-it-so-easy-to-do/220304/13 "2003-12-21T17:16:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Thin Ice \* > \*\*Seems to me if you can move at all with your parking brake on then it’s not applying strong enough or you aren’t applying it strong enough. \*\* Exactly. My current car won’t budge at all, thankfully in the past 2 years I’ve only done it 3 or 5 times 😉 . One way to make sure that it is still working, of course, is to park on an incline, put car in Neutral, set the E brake and see if it rolls. ---
**Author:** ![aerodave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f08c70/32.png) [@aerodave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aerodave)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-driving-with-your-parking-brake-on-is-such-a-bad-thing-why-is-it-so-easy-to-do/220304/14 "2003-12-21T17:21:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by don’t ask \* > \*\*May make a hill start in a manual car tricky. \*\* I never use the e-brake to start on a hill, and I never roll back an inch. My dad taught me to use the parking brake when I first learned to drive, but he explained the process as something that you do until you can work the pedals better. Now, many years later, I don’t think I could use the handbrake if I tried. It would feel most awkward. And the people who say they never use the e-brake are either automatic drivers or flatlanders. If you have to park on a steep hill, the purpose of the brake is clear. One of my old cars had a broken e-brake cable for some time, and it rolled away once or twice. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-driving-with-your-parking-brake-on-is-such-a-bad-thing-why-is-it-so-easy-to-do/220304/15 "2003-12-21T17:28:34Z")
**audiolover** - If you’re doing what I think you’re doing, aren’t you putting unnecessary wear on your clutch? ---
**Author:** ![Susanann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@Susanann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susanann)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-driving-with-your-parking-brake-on-is-such-a-bad-thing-why-is-it-so-easy-to-do/220304/16 "2003-12-21T17:32:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by audilover \* > \*\* And the people who say they never use the e-brake are either automatic drivers or flatlanders. If you have to park on a steep hill, the purpose of the brake is clear. One of my old cars had a broken e-brake cable for some time, and it rolled away once or twice. \*\* When parking on any hill, you turn your wheels so it doesnt roll. People who use/depend on the parking brake, either dont know about turning their wheels, or else have never had an e-brake cable break. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-driving-with-your-parking-brake-on-is-such-a-bad-thing-why-is-it-so-easy-to-do/220304/17 "2003-12-21T17:45:41Z")
Susanann, what is God’s name are you talking about? Adding an extra layer of defense (parking brake) is not ignorance. The rules are as follows: Downhill park: turn wheels towards curb/side of road, apply parking brake. Uphill park: Wheels away from cub, roll a little back to set your back wheels against the curb. Apply parking brake. No curb: Use common sense. Point your wheels so your car doesn’t roll into traffic. ---
**Author:** ![aerodave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f08c70/32.png) [@aerodave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aerodave)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-driving-with-your-parking-brake-on-is-such-a-bad-thing-why-is-it-so-easy-to-do/220304/18 "2003-12-21T18:01:57Z")
**pulykamell** : One, you got my name wrong. And two, it done properly, quickly moving from brake to gas puts no more wear on the clutch than the e-brake method, and hardly any more than doing it normally on level ground. It just requires finesse and quickness. **Susanann** , it’s easy to forget. And sometimes, there’s now to to turn your wheels to keep it from rolling. Out in the country, for example, you can easily find youself parking on a hill with nothing to turn your wheels toward. My car never rolled anywhere there was traffic to worry about. Because then, I was able to turn toward the curb. ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-driving-with-your-parking-brake-on-is-such-a-bad-thing-why-is-it-so-easy-to-do/220304/19 "2003-12-21T18:07:16Z")
And as mentioned in another thread: Should your parked car be hit by another vehicle, having the parking brake engaged is a good way to keep the amount of damage to the transmission to a minimum. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-driving-with-your-parking-brake-on-is-such-a-bad-thing-why-is-it-so-easy-to-do/220304/20 "2003-12-21T18:15:09Z")
Ah, **audi**. I thought you were balancing your car with the throttle and clutch. It makes more sense now. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-driving-with-your-parking-brake-on-is-such-a-bad-thing-why-is-it-so-easy-to-do/220304.md?page=2)