Modern cars

[Bornfree]

A parking brake isn't a secondary braking system on anything modern with a split brake system.
On a modern vehicle, you should never completely lose braking with no warning, and if you do, then something major has gone wrong.

However electric handbrakes can still be applied in an emergency. They may not engage immediately, but they will still apply.

And if you're that concerned about modern technology and braking, you might not like to know that pretty much all modern trucks, the first 80% of brake pedal travel is pure electronic. Each axle usually has it's own electronic modulator to control air to each wheel.
You can cut the airlines out of the brake pedal, and the brakes will still work as long as the electronics are working, and the axle modulators have air pressure. It's only once you get past that first 80% does the air valve in the pedal open, and bypass the electronic modulators.

Do trucks still have mechanical spring parking brakes?

 

[qwakers]

Yes, when air is removed from the chambers (by applying the handbrake or the tanks being empty) the spring brakes apply.

 

[redlig]

As someone who drives slow enough to be in front of one . . , I beg to differ . . .

Now as to the person who put the tiny tiny main beam warning light on my car just where its hidden by your hand on the wheel . . . and fitted it with headlights so crap I couldn't tell from inside that they were on main beam . . .

Try driving a Ford Thames 1500 cwt van in the 60's . If you felt really brave you drove up a steepish hill in the rain after dark. Talk about drive by wire it was more like drive by feel.

 

[m_c]

Yes, when air is removed from the chambers (by applying the handbrake or the tanks being empty) the spring brakes apply.

Technically they shouldn't apply just by draining the tanks. If they do, then the multi-circuit protection valve has failed.
With the park brakes released, the brakes should not apply until the park brake lever is applied, regardless of how much air is left in the tanks.

 

[Matchless]

My Land Rover 90 has no electronic devices or ecu's or air bags and I really concentrate whilst driving it
The Astra may be more comfortable etc but sends you to sleep
I know which I prefer to drive!!!!!

Many of my cars don't even have seat belts!

 

[Ashley Burton]

Alot of this electronic modern day s*** needs turning off before it leaves the factory

 

[Bornfree]

Alot of this electronic modern day s*** needs turning off before it leaves the factory

You are correct automatic headlights, wipers , electric handbrakes, traction control, emergency braking, adaptive cruise control. No one ever asked for it or needed it

 

[nickk]

You are correct automatic headlights, wipers , electric handbrakes, traction control, emergency braking, adaptive cruise control. No one ever asked for it or needed it

Is it manufacturers or organisations/government implementation?
The only way around it ,I see,is to become a pedestrian or keep old bangers going.

 

[Bornfree]

Is it manufacturers or organisations/government implementation?
The only way around it ,I see,is to become a pedestrian or keep old bangers going.

I have a 1998 ssangyong korando with none of the above. I suppose in the end it will be taxed off the road

 

[8ob]

The best cars I have ever been in are those driven by someone else, kin hate driving

Bob

 

[Bornfree]

The best cars I have ever been in are those driven by someone else, kin hate driving

Bob

Iam the opposite I love driving. But for now much longer I do not know

 

[Ashley Burton]

@Bornfree Don't totally agree with you on that one! Auto wipers work well on some vehicles, Cruise control any day & adaptive cruise yes! But they can keep their emergency stop, electronic handbrakes & lane assist

 

[daleyd]

I like it - the more the better for me! I’ve had collision warning stuff on my last few cars and it’s saved me from rear ending someone once (entirely my fault for not concentrating). Auto wipers - great. Lights the same. If I want them in I can always override it but I’ve almost never felt the need. ABS and traction control - I’m not a race driver so I don’t intimately know the limits of my cars traction, and when I step over the line I’ve always been glad of something to help me out. Again, there’s been more than a few occasions when I’ve turned it off, but for day to day driving - no thanks.

If anything I think it allows you to concentrate more on the actual “driving” aspect. I’ve probably driven 30k + miles a year for the last 20+ years, a few years considerably more than that, and I can’t say I’d go back to the old days.

I do appreciate there’s something nice about a back to basics car, but as a daily driver I like as many mod cons as I can get

 

[Bornfree]

I like it - the more the better for me! I’ve had collision warning stuff on my last few cars and it’s saved me from rear ending someone once (entirely my fault for not concentrating). Auto wipers - great. Lights the same. If I want them in I can always override it but I’ve almost never felt the need. ABS and traction control - I’m not a race driver so I don’t intimately know the limits of my cars traction, and when I step over the line I’ve always been glad of something to help me out. Again, there’s been more than a few occasions when I’ve turned it off, but for day to day driving - no thanks.

If anything I think it allows you to concentrate more on the actual “driving” aspect. I’ve probably driven 30k + miles a year for the last 20+ years, a few years considerably more than that, and I can’t say I’d go back to the old days.

I do appreciate there’s something nice about a back to basics car, but as a daily driver I like as many mod cons as I can get

Each to their own. What about start stop ?

 

[Ashley Burton]

Each to their own. What about start stop ?

Have no issue with it! Only old folk seem to complain about it

 

[daleyd]

Each to their own. What about start stop ?

Good in genuine start stop conditions on motorway for example - where you know you’ll be stopped for a minute or more. If I’m in town, where it’s not going to be useful I just turn it off.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

or keep old bangers going.

There's something to be said for the 'bangernomics' philosophy

 

[mechman]

Each to their own. What about start stop ?

Love it.

 

[zx9]

The best cars I have ever been in are those driven by someone else, kin hate driving

Bob

Yer Brussels in the back of a S Class and the driver thought I was going to be late for the EuroStar, obviously there were no speed cameras in the Brussels underpasses in those days. I did think about Princess Diana on occasions during that journey.

 

[jerrytug]

Have no issue with it! Only old folk seem to complain about it

Old folk know where the ignition switch is, they can turn off the engine if they want to.