When Should You Use the Parking Brake?

While most drivers are familiar with the parking lot, many of them don't know when to use it. Also known as an emergency brake, the parking brake consists of either a manually operated lever or, in some cars, a separate pedal near the gas and brake pedals. If it's a lever, you can pull it up to engage the parking brake. If it's a pedal, you can press it with your foot. When should you use the parking brake exactly? 

Overview of the Parking Brake

The parking brake works by engaging the brakes with a cable. Your vehicle's primary braking system is hydraulic. It uses fluid, known as brake fluid, to stop your vehicle. The parking brake is not hydraulic, nor does it rely on fluid. Instead, the parking brake consists of cables that connect to your vehicle's brakes. Engaging the parking brake will engage the brakes to which it's connected via this cable.

Use When Parking

There's a reason why it's called the "parking brake." The parking brake is intended for use when parking. When parking your vehicle, you should engage the parking brake.

Engaging the parking brake will lower the risk of unintentional movement if your vehicle is struck by another vehicle while parked. Assuming your vehicle has an automatic transmission, it will likely have a parking pawl. The parking pawl is designed to lock up the transmission so that your vehicle won't roll while parked. If your vehicle is struck, though, the parking pawl could become damaged. Engaging the parking brake will ensure that your vehicle doesn't move even if the parking paw is damaged.

Hills or Flat Terrain

Whether you're parking on a hill or flat terrain, you should engage the parking brake. Some drivers only use the parking brake when parking on hills. But you should really use the parking brake when parking on a hill or flat terrain.

Your vehicle could be struck when parked, regardless of the terrain. Even if it's parked on flat terrain, a collision may cause it to roll and crash into nearby structures or other vehicles. Engaging the parking brake will protect your vehicle from rolling while parked.

Brake Failure

If your vehicle's main brakes go out, you may want to engage the parking brake. Most experts recommend pumping the brake pedal during an emergency first. If the brake pedal isn't responsive, you can then engage the parking brake. Engaging the parking brake will help to slow down your vehicle.