NOT ALWAYS RELIABLE FOR PARKING WORK.

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 296, 9 August 1932, Page 7

NOT ALWAYS RELIABLE FOR PARKING WORK.

At one time it was custoittary to ] refer to th'e hand-brake of the car' as the gmergency brake, hut of late years Its title has heen changed to that of j "parking-brake." In the instruction hook of many cars it is explained that the "parkingbrake" should not be used as a supplement of the main braking system, which is controlled by the service brake pedal, and that it is iptended only to serve as a means of keeping the car stationary after the vehicle has been brought- to a standstijl. The natural inference is, of eourse, that the hand- or parking-brake is not as effieient as it might be, and indeed, such an accusation is often justifiable. Motorists of the old school were accustomed during a long descent to use both braking systems alternately in order to minimise wear and tear, and to prevent overheating of the brake surfaces, hut it mu.it be admitted that on many modern cars the handbrake can only be regarded as genuinely servieeahle when the vehicle is at rest, and that if it is used otherwise it may soon become feejble in action. There is, accordingly, "some excuse for mistrusting a hand-brake which has seen hard and long service, for, although it may suffice to hold a car stationary on a steep incline, its rachet and pawl mechanism may have become worn so that a sudden jolt or light meddling on the part of inquisitive children will suffice to spring th'e brake and release the car. The obvious precaution when parking on a hill is, therefore, to place the car at an angle to the kerb, so th^t either a front or back wheel is bearing against it. On country roads where there is no kerbing, a chock of stone or wood should he placed in front or behind one of th'e wheels, according to circumstances, and the car allowed to run slowly backward or forward until the tyre is bearing heavily on the chock, so that it cannot be kicked aside either accidentally or mischievously.