… yet…
I sure hope you’re correct. We certainly need them!
CSA
@common_sense_answer … It sounds like you are living in the Keys or something Florida-like.
Happy Birthday Blackbird!
Paradise on earth on Florida’s Suncoast (Gulf side) for the winters ( ?.. It’s winter someplace, right?), smartest thing we ever did. Cars love it here, too.
I remember back in the day when I wore out 2 Volkswagen Beetles, one purchased new and driven for years and years, that I replaced many sets of points and condensers. It was standard operating procedure to change oil every 3,000 miles, plugs, points and condenser, and valve adjustment every 6,000 miles.
Now people expect not to even check their oil between their 10,000 mile oil changes.
CSA
Unnecessary? While not greatly effective in an emergency, parking brakes do provide a measure of backup in case of main braking system failure, not to mention preventing the vehicle from rolling away if the driver fails to leave the vehicle in gear or Park.
… or, if the Park Pawl fails.
My late aunt’s '70s era Ford once rolled away because of the failure of its Park Pawl, coupled with her belief that the the parking brake was “unnecessary”. To her credit, she did learn something from that experience, and she did use the parking brake thereafter.
Wow! The worry and stress some folks subject themselves to…
I suppose if I wanted to add some stress to my life I could be concerned that my car will be stuck by a meteor, falling tree limb, falling coconut (had one near miss, already), falling fish, ice/parts falling from plane landing at SRQ, or some other darn thing…
When I drive I give the responsibility my full attention and effort and I maintain my vehicles to be safe for operation. I have even been known to turn my tires toward the curb when parked on slight inclines.
Remember, though, I do live on the edge and run with scissors. I am trying to relax and maintain an even strain. Also, I have insurance, more insurance than most, to cover any freak occurrence that I choose not to stress over. I just played golf and was not hit by an errant shot! Fore!
Bottom line is, after nearly 5 decades, a couple dozen cars, multiple drivers in the family, millions of miles driven, and not a single incident needing a parking brake, I still choose not to use the parking brake. I have more insurance than most people have which helps me relax.
Oh, the humanity!
CSA
With all due respect, you live where a speed bump is a major change in elevation.
For half the year, then we head for the hills.
CSA
The parking brake us the only way to kick the rear end out around the corner on snowy roads.
I might be old but I am not done having fun yet.
Second highest mountain in FL is Space Mountain at Disney World. FL is NOT hilly.
No joke! Did somebody think Florida was hilly?
The highest elevations on my daily bicycle rides are bridges. I get some definite cardio charging up the Ringling, Hernando DeSoto, and draw bridges to and from Anna Maria Island and Long Boat Key, at 10 mph, though. Coming down at 30mph is exhilarating, too.
CSA
Please restrain your artistic instincts so that you don’t draw those bridges while you are riding your bike! If you are very distracted by sketching, you just might miss the fact that some drawbridges have opened.