05-28-2019, 05:07 AM
Just as a side note:
The handbrake is not an effective emergency brake (an American misnomer) - in fact on most cars, only the rear brakes are attached to the handbrake, leaving the front wheels completely free. You would therefore only be using half of your braking power.
Even in an emergency situation, locking the brakes is not desirable at all. In fact it decreases traction completely and makes you stop slower. Static friction between your tyres and the road is greater than kinetic (sliding) friction. In other words, you are able to exert more braking force while your tyres are not skidding. Not to mention the fact that it makes it impossible to effectively manoeuvre the vehicle to avoid obstacles.
The handbrake is not an effective emergency brake (an American misnomer) - in fact on most cars, only the rear brakes are attached to the handbrake, leaving the front wheels completely free. You would therefore only be using half of your braking power.
Even in an emergency situation, locking the brakes is not desirable at all. In fact it decreases traction completely and makes you stop slower. Static friction between your tyres and the road is greater than kinetic (sliding) friction. In other words, you are able to exert more braking force while your tyres are not skidding. Not to mention the fact that it makes it impossible to effectively manoeuvre the vehicle to avoid obstacles.