When to Apply Parking Brakes

Posted: Oct 07, 2014
Author: Country Town Tire & Auto Service Center

Every vehicle comes equipped with parking brakes, which are sometimes referred to emergency brakes. If you are unfamiliar with this component of your vehicle, you really should take the time to understand what it is for and when to use it.

They are called parking brakes because they are designed to be engaged when you park, yet few people do this on a regular basis. In rare occurrences, a vehicle can roll from its position even if the vehicle has been placed in the transmission’s park position. This is more common on a hill, so it is definitely a good idea to apply parking brakes when parking on anything other than a completely flat surface. Many argue that it should be applied every single time you park, so you stay in the habit of doing it. Certainly if you live in San Francisco, you probably do it every time. On the contrary, drivers in Florida probably don’t often apply parking brakes unless they have a manual transmission, in which case they will set it every single time they park. 

Parking brakes can also be used in an emergency to stop a vehicle if the regular brakes have completely failed. It isn’t a good idea to do it unless there is no other option because it can damage your brake system beyond what has made it fail already. If it comes down to using the parking brakes or hitting a tree, building, pedestrian or going off a cliff, however, it is obviously the wisest course of action.

The important thing about parking brakes is to remember to disengage them before driving off. One way to be sure to avoid this mistake is to engage the parking brake as hard as you can so it will be obvious it is engaged if you try to drive the vehicle. Another important thing is to have parking brakes checked out now and then. One of our service techs at Country Town Tire & Auto Service Center will be glad to do this for you.