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Handbrakes are almost always mechanical cables, but they're almost definitely not enough to stop a car under high engine output. They're mechanical and not pow
by infinotize 13y ago
Handbrakes are almost always mechanical cables, but they're almost definitely not enough to stop a car under high engine output. They're mechanical and not power-boosted (see comments on how much force is needed on the brake pedal without power assistance) and plus, most people have at some point driven around for a few miles before they realized that beeping sound was the parking brake stuck on the whole time.
- owenmarshall 13y agoOh, of course - I've left the "emergency 'smell funny' lever" on before (thanks Mitch Hedberg). So you're probably right, it's a stretch to call the handbrake something useful in emergencies when in reality it probably wouldn't perform that function.
- he_the_great 13y agoIt's called a parking break now. Only useful when the car isn't moving :)
- fnordfnordfnord 13y agoEven if you are able to, fully engaging the handbrake in a car at highway speeds, while the drivetrain is in runaway, wouldn't be helpful. source: I have tested this at ~30-40 mph and nothing about that experience leads me to believe that it would be safer if I had been going faster, and at full throttle.
- twic 13y agoIt might be sensible, though, to couple a killswitch to the handbrake, so that engaging it switches the engine off, or cuts off all electronic control, or something. I don't drive cars, so i have no idea if that would conflict with normal uses of the handbrake. Perhaps it could have a position beyond the normal brake-engaging position that did this? So that if someone panics and yanks on it as hard as they can, they get the result they probably want.
- pkolaczk 13y agoHandbrakes usually brake only the rear wheels. If you turn the handbrake fully on while driving at higher speeds, you may lose directional-control.