# Automatic hand brake release? **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [August 23, 2024, 12:04am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/automatic-hand-brake-release/195913 "2024-08-23T00:04:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/christhetirewhisperer/32/34798_2.png) [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChrisTheTireWhisperer)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 12:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/automatic-hand-brake-release/195913/21 "2024-08-25T12:02:41Z")
> [@Beancounter](#): > > Yes, I “should” always remember to apply the parking brake, a manual parking > brake if properly applied “should” hold a car in position, the driver “should” always > remember to release the brake before driving and I “should” always be the kind of > person my dog thinks I am but … > > Having recently bought my first vehicle with an automatic brake I see no downside > and the upsides of always having the brake automatically applied and the elimination > of the risk of brake burn if I forgot to release them. ^^ Examples of how the process of thinking while driving is being gradually eliminated with nannies like this, and blindspot detection, lane keep assist, etc. We are being made lazier and dumber with all this tech. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 12:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/automatic-hand-brake-release/195913/22 "2024-08-25T12:04:27Z")
Even my Tesla with just about everything automatic doesn’t apply the parking brake automatically. I put it in park by pressing the button on the end of the transmission stalk, then press it again to set the parking brake. The parking brake is released as part of putting the transmission in reverse or drive. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/48514_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 12:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/automatic-hand-brake-release/195913/23 "2024-08-25T12:21:54Z")
> [@jtsanders](#): > > Even my Tesla with just about everything automatic doesn’t apply the parking brake automatically. Ditto for Lexus. However, if I unfasten my seatbelt before shutting the car off, then it does apply the e-brake automatically. I manually apply the e-brake if the car is parked on a less-than-level surface. But, it does automatically release when the vehicle is put into gear. ---
**Author:** ![ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/christhetirewhisperer/32/34798_2.png) [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChrisTheTireWhisperer)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 12:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/automatic-hand-brake-release/195913/24 "2024-08-25T12:28:34Z")
> [@VDCdriver](#): > > However, if I unfasten my seatbelt before > shutting the car off, then it does apply the e-brake > automatically. I don’t know if I like the idea of the position of a seatbelt triggering e-brake application. Another electrical weak point to fail eventually. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 2:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/automatic-hand-brake-release/195913/25 "2024-08-25T14:04:26Z")
Those “old” cars (not George old, but cars from this century) have a switch on the handbrake lever or pedal. It shows a red warning on the dash when the car is running and the parking brake is on. How difficult is it to notice a RED brake light symbol on your dash? It is called an idiot light for a reason! Oh, and my Mustang starts dinging at you if the driver is so clueless as to ignore that idiot light. I forgot that detail in my post because I never hear it. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 2:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/automatic-hand-brake-release/195913/26 "2024-08-25T14:36:37Z")
My soon new 2023 still has the old 100% mechanical pull hand brake… 😆 But I am one that pulls the hand brake even in the garage, just not as hard as on a hill, the Infinity has the one push foot brake, it also releases with one push, and I am sure the 23 truck will be treated the same way… But my idiot self has more than once started driving with the hand brake pulled leaving the driveway, I also don’t pull it hard when parked on a flat surface, so the car will move… Never smoked the brakes and the 06 Corolla rear drums still lasted well over 100K miles with me doing it sometimes… lol Yes they do have an idiot light and sometimes ding, but when you are sooo used to hearing dings, horns, brakes squeaking, air impact guns going all day long, air rachets doing the same, and like to jam out in your vehicle when alone, you tend to not hear that ding, and even though the stupid hand brake is right beside you, you may not look down at the dash while making a few turns leaving the neighborhood, then while waiting to turn out onto the main road you look down and see the blaring RED IDIOT light and go 🤬 🤦‍♂️ 🤬 🤬 ---
**Author:** ![ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/christhetirewhisperer/32/34798_2.png) [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChrisTheTireWhisperer)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 2:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/automatic-hand-brake-release/195913/27 "2024-08-25T14:44:21Z")
> [@davesmopar](#): > > Yes they do have an idiot light and sometimes ding, but when you > are sooo used to hearing dings, horns, brakes squeaking, air impact > guns going all day long, air rachets doing the same, and like to jam > out in your vehicle when alone, you tend to not hear that ding, and > even though the stupid hand brake is right beside you, Awww screw all that… I’ll admit that I’m only the _most forgetful bassturd I know_, ever since drinking Heinys in my mother’s womb, and living in a secondhand smoke cloud of a house from birth until I moved out, two special ed schools and three short buses and thirty years later! Being called dummy all the time by your dad just because it took three times to learn to tie your shoes sure does a lot for the old self confidence… ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 2:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/automatic-hand-brake-release/195913/28 "2024-08-25T14:52:49Z")
I put this in the same category with automatic headlights. Of course we don’t _need_ them and can do it all manually. Did that for 50 years. But they sure are nice to have and one less thing to deal with- how many people driving with only DRLs on? I’ve certainly tried to drive off with my parking brake on, especially when launching/retrieving a boat… ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/48514_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 3:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/automatic-hand-brake-release/195913/29 "2024-08-25T15:06:12Z")
> [@TwinTurbo](#): > > how many people driving with only DRLs on? That may be changing, thanks to the manufacturers. I was very happy to see that, when the DRLs are activated, my 2022 vehicle’s tail lights are also on. Of course, that won’t prevent nitwits from driving at night with just the DRLs. Then, they can come to this forum to complain that their new car has terrible headlights. 😏 ---
**Author:** ![asemaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@asemaster](https://community.cartalk.com/u/asemaster)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 4:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/automatic-hand-brake-release/195913/30 "2024-08-25T16:22:32Z")
> [@davesmopar](#): > > Yes they do have an idiot light and sometimes ding, but when you are sooo used to hearing dings, horns, brakes squeaking, air impact guns going all day long, air rachets doing the same, and like to jam out in your vehicle when alone, you tend to not hear that ding I have the ability to tune out all those warning noises. In the past it wasn’t unusual for a guy working 2 stalls over from me to come over and close the door of the car I was working on because the door chime was bothering him. ---
**Author:** ![Beancounter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/59ef9b/32.png) [@Beancounter](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Beancounter)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 4:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/automatic-hand-brake-release/195913/31 "2024-08-25T16:29:06Z")
> [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](#): > > Examples of how the process of thinking while driving is being gradually eliminated with nannies like this, and blindspot detection, lane keep assist, etc. > > We are being made lazier and dumber with all this tech. I completely agree, these automatic devices are making us dumber and dumber so why stop with the automatic handbrake release? Automatic transmissions, automatic turn off of headlights, automatic climate control, automatic ABS skid prevention, automatic brake wear adjustment, automatic fuel adjustment should all be eliminated and I’ve got a 1960’s MG that would perfectly fit all your needs! And maybe it’s the reason that us Old Farts who grew up with these now crappy cars are so much smarter than the Young Pups 🤣: ---
**Author:** ![old\_mopar\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6bbea6/32.png) [@old\_mopar\_guy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/old_mopar_guy)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 9:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/automatic-hand-brake-release/195913/32 "2024-08-25T21:51:49Z")
If your eyes arent scanning the instrument panel whenever the engine is running, that makes you a lousy driver. You could just as easily miss a red oil pressure light as a red brake light. [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/automatic-hand-brake-release/195913.md?page=1)