broken handbrake - ok to drive?

jc808

My handbrake on a manual ford ka broke today

i have to do 100 miles daily for the next 5 days - mostly motoways/ DCs
can get it sorted next weekend

would you?

worried_jim

Yes no worries, when you park leave it in gear and make sure you are good at hill starts!

[Deleted User]

My 206 had a knackered handbrake. Had it fixed when I had new discs, pads and rear shoes. Then it was knackered again after a few month for some reason. I just parked it in gear all the time.

specialboy

If parking on a hill remember to point your wheels to the kerb if downhill and away from the kerb if uphill

[Deleted User]

specialboy wrote: »

If parking on a hill remember to point your wheels to the kerb if downhill and away from the kerb if uphill

You don't need to if you park in gear. Car ain't going no where.

specialboy

Deleted_User wrote: »

You don't need to if you park in gear. Car ain't going no where.

Even in gear a car can move.

gilbert_and_sullivan

Presumably you'll be at your destination every day for several hours, is there not a little indy there that could sort it for you today or tomorrow.

Stooby2

worried_jim wrote: »

Yes no worries, when you park leave it in gear and make sure you are good at hill starts!

Wrong, it's an offence not to have a working handbrake.

Construction and Use Regulations 1986

18. (1) Every part of every braking system and of the means of operation thereof fitted to a vehicle shall be maintained in good and efficient working order and be properly adjusted.

Some Traffic Officers and VOSA officers can issue an immediate prohibition of use of the vehicle as well. It's 3 points on your licence & a fine.

LandyAndy

Stooby2 wrote: »

Wrong, it's an offence not to have a working handbrake.

Construction and Use Regulations 1986

18. (1) Every part of every braking system and of the means of operation thereof fitted to a vehicle shall be maintained in good and efficient working order and be properly adjusted.

Some Traffic Officers and VOSA officers can issue an immediate prohibition of use of the vehicle as well. It's 3 points on your licence & a fine.

True, but back in the real world, it is an offence that is highly unlikely to be detected and a problem that is very unlikely to cause the OP a problem.

IamNotAllowedToUseMyName

LandyAndy wrote: »

True, but back in the real world, it is an offence that is highly unlikely to be detected and a problem that is very unlikely to cause the OP a problem.

Yes and no, rolling about in a strange way might just catch someone's eye. If it was an auto I wouldn't have a problem, but you discover that flat roads aren't so flat when you haven't got a handbrake. Driving a Merc Vito with an off/on foot parking brake, you rely on the diesel providing significant drive at idle, similarly the Merc autos with stop/start tech provide a hold system on the brakes to allow time for you to get your foot on the accelerator and not roll.

I guess advice on MSE is worth what you pay for it, reading some of the answers here.

Mankysteve

Another option would be a decent mobile mechanic