Youve been using your car handbrake wrong as woman leaves drivers gobsmacked

2022-09-07

A woman has left drivers completely mindblown after she shared a video on TikTok showing how she uses the handbrake — which has made many realise that they're actually using it wrong.

Emmy, from Australia, claims she received "so many questions" about how she uses her handbrake after posting the video inside her car.

In the latest clip, which has gained more than 11,800 likes, she said: "This handbrake, you take it off when you want to drive and then you put it on when you’re done driving.

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“But apparently, everyone on TikTok is coming to tell me that I don’t need to do that if my car is in park. I always put the car in park… and then I put the handbrake on. Is that not what you’re meant to do?"

People flocked to the comments to say they use the handbrake the same way as her, writing: "What you are doing is entirely correct and the safest option period, I will not enter any debate stating otherwise."

Another added: "Ma’am you are correct. If they tell you differently please tell them to throw away their license."

However, it appears they're probably using it wrong as one user explained: "When you put your car in park and then put your handbrake on, the entire weight of the car is resting on the park break rather than the handbrake, which means it’s resting on the gearbox."

Another added: “Technically you put your foot on brake, put in neutral, put the hand brake on, release your brakes, put in park – takes all tension off the gearbox."

A third said: "Neutral > handbrake > park. Always use your handbrake though."

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According to insurance company Nationwide, there is a common misconception about the use of a handbrake/emergency brake.

They explained on their website: "The emergency brake… works independently from the brakes that you tap to stop your car. It’s that way on purpose so you have access to an alternative braking system should your primary brakes fail.

“Your primary brakes work through a high-tech hydraulic system and are meant to slow your car to a stop. Many drivers put their cars in park before setting the emergency brake. That’s backwards.

“The correct way is to stop your car with your primary brakes, set the emergency brake and then place your car in park before turning off your engine.

“If you put the car in park and then release the brake pedal, the transmission holds the car in place. That increases the wear and tear on it. Engaging the emergency brake first is easier on the transmission.”

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