Where did the name "emergency brake" come from?

[Langers]

Extract from another thread:

Langers Just out of interest where did the name "emergency brake" come from? I can't see it being any use in an actual emergency, and then there's the fact that it is used constantly (hill starts, hill parking, etc) during everyday driving.........

nick-moss I think it's an American term, we use "handbrake" in the UK. With an auto transmission the emergency brake is rarely used.

Joeaksa Langers,

Here in America its also called the parking brake. When I was living in Germany they take a far different view of this and its called the emergency brake.

During the German TUV tests which are done every two years on every vehicle, the emergency brake is tested at driving speeds and they must not only stop the car but also stop the car with equal pressure to each rear wheel. Needless to say, lots of emergency brake pads (which are very small and expensive) are burned up during this test but its their requirement and must be met.

Joe

Langers quote:

Originally posted by Joeaksa
Langers,

Here in America its also called the parking brake. When I was living in Germany they take a far different view of this and its called the emergency brake.

During the German TUV tests which are done every two years on every vehicle, the emergency brake is tested at driving speeds and they must not only stop the car but also stop the car with equal pressure to each rear wheel. Needless to say, lots of emergency brake pads (which are very small and expensive) are burned up during this test but its their requirement and must be met.

Joe



Thanks for that, never would have known! I know the TUV tests are extremely strict but it still sounds a bit excessive. I guess it's an "emergency" brake in the sense of complete brake failure rather than an accident avoidance emergency.

So if it was any car other than a Porsche, in America (as well as England, Australia etc), you would call it a handbrake?

ischmitz Having lived in Germany for almost 30 years myself (born and raised) I have never called it an emergency brake or heard of this term. It's a "Handbremse" or "Feststellbremse" The later term would mean something similar to parking break.

Mercedes was one of the cars where it wasn't your hand but your foot that engaged it. It was commonly referred to as the "Schlammschleuer" which means mud sling since the mud-covered pedal on early cars would fling that crap back on your legs upon release.

The Tüv won't test it at high driving speeds either. The car usually sits on those big rolls and the it has to show a certain stopping power.

is

Langers So it's still a mystery as to why it's called an "emergency brake". Hmm I'll have to keep digging. Thanks for the help

So why is it called an emergency brake?

TIA

[nick-moss]

from Yahooligans:

emergency brake
NOUN: A separate brake system in a vehicle for use in case of failure of the regular brakes and commonly used as a parking brake. Also called hand brake.

hand brake
NOUN: See emergency brake. (!)

From About.com

EMERGENCY BRAKE

A braking system that acts independently of the main hydraulic system and can slow or stop the car in the event that the primary system fails. It can also be used to keep the car from rolling on unleveled ground. Also called the "parking" or "hand" brake.

PARKING BRAKE

The mechanical hand- or foot-operated brake that prevents the vehicle from rolling or slipping when parked.