Handbrakes have been an integral part of commercial vehicle design and a key safety feature for many decades.

Today handbrakes remain a critical component of vehicle design and are primarily used to safely lock the vehicle into a parking position. But it’s a frequently overlooked safety measure by many drivers and can prove to be quite a costly and impactful oversight; damaging property, putting lives at risk and causing unwanted downtime for your fleet. Drivers should always use the parking brake to lock the vehicle securely into its position. It’s an important habit to develop.

To prevent unnecessary roll-aways which can cause severe damage, always set your parking brake – and do this every single time you get out of the driver’s seat!

Your handbrake is not purely of value when parked but can also prove a vital safety feature when your vehicle is required to stop on a slope or when you are waiting at an intersection.

Looking for a technical training on our handbrake valve technology? Then WABCO Academy is there to support your training needs!

Proper use of WABCO handbrake systems

To support improved road safety WABCO has continued to innovate in the handbrake segment.  Today WABCO’s advanced handbrake technology has been integrated into a significant number of commercial vehicles globally, supporting the safety of drivers and the environment around them.

Proper use of this technology is vital to enabling vehicles to be operated properly and WABCO regularly provides field information to its customer on automotive safety topics. To support your fleet’s safety, WABCO has provided a number of tips on the proper use of the handbrake valve:

  • Always lock the handbrake into the lock position when parked or attempting to perform a hill start. Improperly locking the handle in the parking position may result in the vehicle parking brake being unintentionally released.
  • Ensure that you properly lock the handbrake valve into the FULL lock position. Pulling it halfway will not guarantee your vehicle is properly locked.
  • Improper use of the handbrakes can create excessive wear and tear and reduce the effectiveness of the hand brake over time. This includes non-axial or partial lifting of the handle while operating and/or overloading and using excessive force while operating the handle.
  • In case any abnormality in the locking function is detected by the user at any time – such as a lack of smooth movement, increased friction, free play and so forth – WABCO strongly recommends the immediate replacement of the handbrake valve.

The importance of workshops in creating awareness

Workshops play an important part in creating awareness of the importance of proper and regular use of handbrakes in commercial vehicles. WABCO supports workshops and distributors globally with regularly updated information to support their technical expertise and regularly encourages them to provide the relevant safety and operational information to their customers.

For workshops, we advise the following:

  • Always check the status of the handbrakes when vehicles are being serviced. It’s a critical safety
    component and cannot be missed.
  • Take a moment to explain the proper handling of the handbrake to your customers. Your advice
    will help reduce driver error and improve road safety.
  • When in doubt, please refer to the handbrake manual or contact your local WABCO
    representative for more information.

Stay safe!