How and when to use your emergency brake
When should you use the emergency brake? New and experienced drivers often don’t know how the emergency brake works, or how and when to use it. Yet it can increase the safety of a vehicle, not to mention its engine life.
How and when to use your emergency brake
When should you use the emergency brake? New and experienced drivers often don’t know how the emergency brake works or how and when to use it. Yet it can increase the safety of a vehicle and help reduce wear on the car’s transmission.
What is an emergency brake
The emergency brake is a secondary brake, often connected to your car's rear brakes, which commonly operate via a wire. It is typically engaged by pulling up on a lever or pushing down on a pedal; in newer cars, it may be engaged by pressing a button or switch. The emergency brake can be used to stop your car in an emergency if your regular brakes fail. Refer to your vehicle manual to identify the location of your emergency brake.1
How emergency brakes work
The emergency brake, or parking brake as it's sometimes called, 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 hydraulic system and are meant to slow your car to a stop. The emergency brake, on the other hand, is designed to hold your car in place. However, if your primary brakes fail, you can use the emergency brake to slow down and stop your car.2
When to use emergency brakes
Here are a few situations in which to consider using the emergency brake:
When you park
Consider using your emergency brake when you park. It doesn’t matter if you're on a hill or a flat parking lot, whether you drive an automatic or manual transmission, or whether the weather is pleasant or inclement.2
While you are working on the car
If you are working on your car, it may be important to engage the emergency brake to prevent it from rolling. This is especially important if you are working on the brakes or wheels. Consult your car manual or a skilled mechanic for more information. If your car is ever being transported for service via a flatbed, consider engaging the emergency brake for stability.3
In an emergency
As the name suggests, you can also use your emergency brake in an emergency. If you can't stop your car, slowly pull up on the emergency brake handle or press the emergency brake pedal down to come to a complete stop. For newer cars in which the emergency brake is activated with a button, gradually engaging the brake isn’t an option. Consult with your car’s operating manual for guidance on when and how to use your emergency brake.
How to use emergency brakes
Many drivers put their cars in park before setting the emergency brake. That’s backwards.
If you put the car in park and then release the brake pedal, you will often feel the car rock slightly before halting fully. That’s the gears in the transmission holding the car in place. However, over time, this increases the wear and tear on the transmission. Engaging the emergency brake before shifting into park prevents that rocking motion and helps preserve your transmission.3
When to avoid using your e-brake
While the emergency brake is an important safety feature, there are some times when you should not use it.
- Do not use the emergency brake while driving unless it’s an emergency. Continuing to drive while the e-brake is engaged can severely damage your braking system.
- Do not use the emergency brake to perform an emergency stop in slick conditions. If it’s raining or snowing, the e-brake may cause you to slide and lose control of your vehicle.
- Do not rely on your emergency brake if the temperature is below freezing. Your e-brake uses wire to function instead of the hydraulic system your regular brakes run on. This means they can freeze and fail in extreme cold.1
Why emergency brakes are important
Using the emergency brake every time you park gives your car added stability. For example, if your car is hit while it's parked, the emergency brake may decrease the chances of it rolling.2
Engaging the emergency brake also keeps it in good working order. Emergency brakes that aren't used can rust, which makes them less likely to work properly in an emergency.4
Learning how to use your emergency brake is important to maintain your safety while driving. For more safety tips, consider these driving tips from Nationwide and make sure your car is covered in case of an accident with the right car insurance policy.