Handbrake in winter - when to use it?

Winter is a tough time for drivers. This is due not only to frequent driving, but also to numerous problems with starting the vehicle. This is especially important if you don't have a garage and your old car starts asking for a replacement. Not without reason, many drivers are wondering whether it is worth putting the handbrake in winter.. However, the answer to this question is not so simple. Why? In some situations, nothing will happen when using the handbrake in winter, but in others it can have serious consequences.

Should you use a handbrake in winter? 

Many experienced drivers are of the opinion that the included handbrake in winter is nothing but problems. And there is something in this. 

Old cars are usually not only poorly designed, but also simply worn out. For this reason, the handbrake in winter can cause some problems if you are not driving a new car. When you pull it, you may find that the whole system freezes and you won't be able to move. This, in turn, may mean that on that day the vehicle will simply be unusable, and you will have to go to work on foot or by public transport. Winter is no fun!

Handbrake frozen in winter - how to deal with it?

If this happens to you, you have no choice. We'll have to wait for the ice to melt. Driving in the winter with the handbrake on is just a very stupid undertaking that is dangerous and will lead to car breakdown.. For this reason, it is better to put the car in a heated garage. 

Don't you have it? Ask your neighbors for help, because this is really the easiest and safest way. In case of problems, you can also report it to your mechanic. Once you manage to unfreeze the system, make sure it doesn't happen again. You can fix this, for example, by renting a garage for the winter.

Handbrake in winter - how to protect yourself from freezing?

A handbrake can be described as a set of levers and cables, relatively simple in design. It can freeze when the shells protecting the lines are leaky, which means that water accumulates under them. This one can freeze and lead to nasty problems. 

You can protect yourself from freezing in several ways. First of all, before the onset of winter, you should go to the mechanic for an inspection. All malfunctions will be eliminated there, and in winter you can tighten the handbrake without any problems. 

Another way is running. This is a good alternative if you haven't had time to take your car to a specialist.

Electric handbrake in winter - is it worth investing?

The electric handbrake in winter actually has only pluses. If you have the opportunity, choose it instead of the classic version! You can usually find it on new cars. This greatly improves road safety by making it easier to park and drive uphill. It will also work in case of a sudden problem with the standard brake. In addition, it is easier to diagnose than the classic one, and the absence of an additional lever in the cabin allows better use of this space. 

But how does it work in winter? First, it simply does not freeze. Its design does not allow this, so the driver has one less worry. 

Handbrake in winter requires common sense

Applying the handbrake is an action that many drivers do instinctively. In winter, before doing this, weigh the pros and cons. If you're going to leave your car outside on a cold night and the car is getting old, it might be better to put it in gear. 

A handbrake in winter can finally give you a lot of nerves and problems. However, if you have a new car, it may turn out that such care of the vehicle is simply not necessary. Shifting into gear might create a bit of a problem starting the next day!