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Writer's pictureBilly Hillmuth

When Do You Use Your Parking Brake?

Updated: Aug 6, 2021


As we’ve said many times, your brakes are pretty important in your vehicle. Your parking brake, however, is an often neglected part of the brake family. Today we’re going to show it a little love and give you an overview of what you need to know to get the most out of it.


Use It When you Park!


Though this may be obvious, you use your parking brake when you park. Though many people only use it when they’re parking on a hill or other incline, it’s a good idea to engage your parking brake no matter where you’ve parked. Using the parking brake when you’ve parked adds stability to your vehicle, which can prove invaluable in case your car is hit by another while you’re not there. The parking brake can also help to take some of the stress off of your transmission since it is bearing the burden of keeping your car in place.


Why Is It Called an Emergency Brake?



Now for the fun part. Imagine you’re driving down the road. Suddenly, you press on your brakes and they’re not working. Before you panic, remember your emergency brake! Your emergency brake is there to back you up in case your main braking system ever goes out. That’s why it’s important to keep up with it even if you have never considered using it to park.


Don’t Neglect Your Emergency Brake!


Though you may not pay much attention to your parking brake, it is a very important component of your vehicle. Make sure to engage it regularly so that it doesn’t get rusty and so that you know it works. An emergency is not the time to find out that your parking brake stopped working at some point. Keeping track of the essential safety features in your vehicle is part of being a responsible car owner.


Do You Need to Have Your Vehicle Inspected?


For peace of mind and preemptive protection, getting your vehicle inspected and serviced regularly will ensure that you’re not left without a working parking brake. Bring your vehicle into one of our automotive repair shops conveniently located in Gaithersburg, Columbia, Glenwood, and Clarksville for more information. We’ll make sure you can drive away safely and confidently.


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