Arfa Daily wrote:


The pedal operated parking brake, which is found on many american vehicles,
is intended to be just that - a PARKING brake. Unlike a UK handbrake lever,
it is not intended to be a supplemental brake to the footbrake. As others
have said, its operation requires the left leg to be lifted very high off
the floor, and considerable effort then needs to be applied, to engage it.
The release lever is often located under the dash, above the pedal, and is
not particularly easily operated.

The 'difficulties' of both engaging and releasing this brake, are of no
consequence when you are parked up and going nowhere. However, they would be
significant if you attempted to use this brake as an 'in traffic' supplement
to the footbrake, in the same way as proper drivers here, use the handbrake
at traffic lights.


Precisely. At a particular garage, I was told they expected 90% (or
somewhere around there) of drivers almost never to use the parking brake
at all. (That was *their* observation - I am just passing it on.)

(On a RHD model, you have to raise your right leg. :-) )

--
Rod

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