Using your handbrake to stop the car

[KreepyKoo]

If your brakes failed or you somehow got something stuck underneath and they were not able to function would it be wise to suddenly pull the handbrake up, or pull up in a controlled and not so sudden fashion, also what would be the implications and how would the car react if doing this at 30, 60 and 100mph respectively?

[ummmm]

I don't know what will happen at different speeds but if you yank the handbrake up the car will spin. I presume the faster you're going the more likely the car will roll...

[KreepyKoo]

Thanks um so if your brakes failed would this be safer then just letting your car impact whatever it is in front of you?

[sara3]

handbrake skids were all the rage when I was a teenager.. until Jim smashed through that bridge and the car dangled over the stream... !

[ummmm]

I suppose that would depend on your speed and what you was going to crash into.

My Aunty and Uncle had a argument in their car. He was telling her to let him out...she wouldn't so he pulled the handbrake on. They weren't going very fast but they ended up facing on coming traffic on the wrong side of the road..!

[ummmm]

Isn't it how they do the super duper parking?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJ9NWbxbcCE

[R1Geezer]

You have to make a judgement on the conditions. Pulling on the handbrake will probably lock the back wheels.

[jno]

try changing down through the gears first

[jackthehat]

Something like this, I should imagine..........

http://www.disclosure...2009/09/Clown-car.jpg

[ummmm]

lol...

Stop following users posting pictures of Klowns Jack....pmsl :-)

[jackthehat]

Me...............!?! :D

[RATTER15]

If for any reason you have to do a stop without using your foot brakes, firstly you would slow down using your gears if time allows this, if this does not bring you to a halt, and it often will, you could very gently apply the handbrake, you would aim to do this on a very straight piece of road and avoid turning the steering wheel as this could put the car into a spin as mentioned above.

However, if you are driving a Landrover or similar vehicle, the handbrake is connected directly to the drive shaft, applying the handbrake on these vehicles under such circumstances would probably mean buying a new gearbox

A slight impact would be advisable over a head on impact, so i would probably advise, using a crash barrier and driving up against it or even driving up against a wall or a hedge to slow down would be preferable to a head on with anything.

.

[RATTER15]

When I say "driving up against it" I don't mean into it, I mean use it to slow down by driving tight to it so that friction on the side of the car will slow you down, I hasten to add, if this isn't done correctly it could also turn your car over.

[chas2008]

brake failure is extremely rare ,modern car braking systems are designed so they dont fail....Its a common excuse for many accidents, usually proved wrong.
Handbraking a car in a controlled skid is very skilled at 100mph i would think totaly uncontrolled and probably fatal...

[cazzz1975]

I would change down through the gearbox towards first using the engine to brake, at high speed applying the handbrake suddenly could cause you to lose control

[woofgang]

lose control......understatement of the day and its only 11.28

[cazzz1975]

I am normally an "overstater" as well, I am mildy impressed :)

[LoftyLottie]

What would I do in my automatic? Never thought about it before now. In a manual I would stop by going down through the gears (if time allowed)

[RATTER15]

No hope for you LoftyLottie :-)

Well actually you can still go down through the gears on most automatic cars, just work your way down to 1st, automatics will choose a lower gear than the one selected but not a higher gear unless its in "D" so when you choose lower gears it will only change to a lower gear automatically not a higher gear.

[TWR]

Drop your gears,5th 3rd>>> 2nd, Ist, that is a part of the testing of person's now, they rely too much on the braking system, your gears are your 2nd form of braking.