How safe is it to drive with parking brake???

Question

My brakes stopped working (probably because of the brake fluid) and I need to take it to the mechanic. How safe is it to drive using the parking brake to stop (I'm driving an automatic car)? I've never done this so is there something I need to know?

Answer 1

It's not safe, and also illegal.

Answer 2

Would be happy to answer further if you would please tell me your most traveled routes and what type of car you drive so that I can keep a safe distance.

Answer 3

I am no mechanic but if my brakes stopped working I would stay home until they are fixed.  It is not worth taking the chance, what if the emergency brake goes out too?

Answer 4

unless shop is less than about 500 feet from your house i would have it towed or do repairs at home. if you try to drive with only e- brake you are begging for trouble.

Answer 5

Not safe at all.     Send that junk to the shop and keep it off the road,   PLEASE!

In the event of any accident,  you would be at fault for failing to maintain your vehicle.

Answer 6

It's not.

The parking brake is designed to hold the vehicle still after it's already stopped.

It also locks every time it's applied.

Answer 7

Yes.  You need to know that parking brakes are not designed to stop a moving vehicle in traffic.  They will at least overheat, at most completely fail.

Answer 8

CALL A TOW TRUCK!!! DON'T DRIVE IT!!!

Answer 9

if you don't know already now is not the time to find out.

Answer 10

Well it is very simple to answer, you can spend $35.00 to $55.00 on a tow and be safe or spend thousands if you have an accident, it is very dangerous.

Answer 11

Tell the mechanic to pick it up

Although I'm ashamed to say I have done it, following a friends car for safety, at about 2 mph (my friend didn't want his car bumped to often)

Answer 12

I will agree that it isn't safe, but I have done it. I drove my truck about 30mi on into town after I broke a brake line on my truck. Town was small and I avoided traffic as best as possible, drove slower and gave myself a ton more room to stop.

Can you do it yeah... Go slower, leave EARLY in the morning, and go drop the car off, give yourself room to stop, because only your rear tires will be doing the braking. Be a whole lot better than a 150+ tow bill.

Yeah, bad advise, but it CAN be done.

Answer 13

IT ISN'T ....it was not designed to bring  a 1500 lb, or more or even less, vehicle in motion to a stop at any speed. Friction will render it useless very quickly and then all you have is downshifting to slow you down which is healthy for the transmission,,,,,just get your brakes repaired or replace and don't drive the car until you do.

Answer 14

If your service brakes (brake pedal) doesn't work, DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR!  Have it towed to a maintenance shop as soon as possible. Driving with just the parking brake is dangerous.