Dear Alex,
My husband and I both own automatic cars. We were discussing how they might be stopped by the passenger in the event of its driver becoming incapacitated, since both cars have an electronic handbrake and obviously no gear lever, so they couldn’t be knocked out of gear. What should we do, and what would happen?
– LC
Dear LC,
Firstly, most automatics will in fact allow you to move the gear selector from drive into neutral while you’re on the move.
Normally, this isn’t advisable. But in an emergency situation it’s the most effective way to decouple the engine from the wheels, which is especially important if the driver has become incapacitated, with their foot stuck on the accelerator pedal. But what about braking? Every car has to have an emergency braking system, to be used if the main brakes have failed.
ADVERTISEMENT
In a car with an electronic handbrake, you activate this by pressing the button or pulling the switch – whichever method you use to activate the handbrake normally – and holding it, at which point the emergency brake will activate.
Some cars, Teslas for example, don’t have a separate handbrake switch, however. In these, you usually put the car’s gearbox into park when you stop, which automatically activates the handbrake. And in much the same way, if you press and hold the park button while driving, the emergency brake should activate and slow the car.
The situation you suggest is one reason why it’s a good idea to have the electronic handbrake switch in the centre of the car, rather than on the driver’s side, where some manufacturers locate it. If it’s to the driver’s right, activating it with an incapacitated driver in the way would be considerably trickier.
If you are unfortunate enough to find yourself having to use a car’s emergency brake, be warned that with these electronic systems there’s no nuance – it’s either on or off – so it usually activates with its full force, extremely abruptly.
So be prepared to come to a halt sharpish. It’s a good idea, for this reason, to ensure there are no cars close behind – if you have time, of course.
EMEA Tribune is not involved in this news article, it is taken from our partners and or from the News Agencies. Copyright and Credit go to the News Agencies, email news@emeatribune.com Follow our WhatsApp verified Channel
