After reading the Stability Control thread got me thinking about features on our cars which I have not used.
I don't remember the Backroom discussing the EPB as an emergency brake.
I had just washed our car which is fitted with one so thought I would try it out.
Off down a quiet backroad, 30mph-ish pulled on the button as mentioned in the handbook and the car pulled up straight, no lock-up, no drama. I tried this a few times on loose chippings/gravel a little quicker again no sideways movement just tracking straight.
I then thought I would try to provoke it so pulled on the button on an open bend where I could see clearly there was no other traffic around. Again the car just stopped, no counter steering required, no sliding, none of the reactions you could expect from a cable operated brake.
Very impressed with the way it just stopped the car, happy I tested it too as it was always a nagging doubt in the back of my mind how it would perform if I needed it in such a way.
The above was done on a quiet backroad with no other traffic around.
EDIT: The above was done in a Citroën C4 GP. Not sure if this representative of how other manufacturer EPB's work.
Last edited by: gmac on Fri 5 Mar 10 at 14:19
|
