is it safe to just use park (auto gearbox) instead of the handbrake?

Answer 1

The locking mechanism when 'Park' is selected was developed by the Americans as an additional safety device to stop the car from moving when left alone. Although in reality it's pretty much impossible to move the car or for the 'Park' mechanism to suddenly fail without the handbrake the entire weight of the vehicle is held purely on a small peg in the transmission.
It's wrong to believe that by not using the handbrake you'll be saving it from wear,if it's not used regularly it may seize up which is a lot more hassle than having to adjust or change the cables every few years plus you won't be able to do handbrake turns in Tesco's car park!
Just don't think about it,every time you leave the driver's seat just pull the handbrake on it'll become a habit and you won't even know you're doing it!

Answer 2

If you really want to know how safe the "P" position is on an auto gearbox, try placing the vehicle in park while the wheels are still movig.
You will hear a crunch and a snap as the parking pawl in the gearbox snaps like a twig.
After doing this there will be no "P" position on the gearbox.
DO NOT DO IT>

Now lets asume you have parked your car on a very slight incline and only left it in the "P" position with no handbrake.

Round the corner comes Johnny Rotten in his clapped out fiesta and manages to clip the back corner of your car.

The same pin will snap like a twig and though Johnny rotten only dented your bumper, your car is now tarvelling merrily down the slight incline looking for something, or someone to collide with.

Always use the handbrake, it is illegal not to!

Answer 3

It is true that park will hold your car still, it is a very good habit to use the hand/emergency brake as a second measure. It's all about protecting your investment...either take the extra second to put the brake on and save your car or don't and loose the car.

I personally had a car roll down a steep parking lot towards me when a lady didn't quite get her car into park. The shifter said P but about 5 minutes after she walked away, I turned around and a big ol caddy was rolling right for me.

The lesson learned was to ALWAYS use my handbrake!!

Answer 4

When you put the lever in P, it engages a little peg that keeps the car from rolling. While usually it will do just fine, there's always that small chance that it will pop loose and let your car roll down a hill. If you're lucky it will just bump into another car.

If you ask around, I'm sure you will get stories about cars rolling out of control.

Best to set the handbrake and be sure.

Plus, on some cars with rear drum brakes, the brake self-adjusting mechanism depends on your using the handbrake.

Answer 5

I have been setting my transmission in PARK without the handbrake for years and never once had any trouble. I've also never heard of anybody start rolling or seen anybody start rolling, but I'm sure it does happen.

If --I-- were you, I would only worry about the handbrake if you are on a slant or a hill, or if you otherwise feel that you might need to use it. If you do set it then you also have to make sure that you don't drive while it's engaged!!! I've done this a few times and I'm sure it's not good for your car either...

For me, the handbrake is just used for powerslides and drifting, not parking on a flat surface. =)

Answer 6

It is usually safe for you to do that if you are on level ground. If you are parked on a hill I would definitely use the handbrake and park. Some cars in the past had a problem of popping out of park or other gears on hills. I would play it safe and use the combination.

Answer 7

The Park position engages a small metal cog called a pawl to keep the car from rolling. This is completely insufficient for the weight of the car and as a result has to be used with the hand brake. In many cases the pawl will hold the car, but often due to wear or stress, it fails and the car rolls away.
Always set the brake and use the park position. They were designed to work in conjunction with each other. Not using the brake only adds to the stress on the pawl and eventually it will fail.

Answer 8

Park is supposed to supplement the handbrake, not t'other way around; you've got both, use 'em. Plus, as already said, in the UK at least you're required to use the handbrake (also more properly described as the parking brake) when parking.

Answer 9

I have had automatic cars for 55 years. During this time i have had many different cars and have used the "P" position in place of the Paking Brake, always holding the car under the footbrake until the action is completed.
My present car has 75000 miles on without any problems with the automatic box or parking paul.
If anyone is always going to drive and automatic i would recommend using one for for the accelerator and one for the brake.
Once used to it, it is safer as there is no delay in moving your foot from throttle to brake as both are covered at the same time.
I know that F1 drivers use this method.

Answer 10

No. Setting it to Park simply locks the transmission. Not the wheels. Thus when you lock the transmission, you only prevent the drive shaft on the differential from turning. One of the wheels can still rotate freely while the other locks (which is what happens in a differential). So the car could still slip. Engaging the handbrake locks both wheels and is much safer.