[cartoonworld]

They also don't really stop a moving car, its a parking brake.

Just wanted to add, a EPB used for emergency stop in his scenario is just using the regular stopping brakes, its not an emergency brake either.

[giantg2]

"They also don't really stop a moving car, it's a parking brake."

This is false. Have you ever tried it? I can say from experience they will stop a moving car.

[cartoonworld]

I have, they're tiny shoes and it'll lock up your rear wheels at best.

I would suggest that anybody reading NOT try this unless you have a quite large and empty lot with no public access. Pay close attention, they are not called Emergency Brakes, they are called Parking Brakes.

The stated purpose of these brakes are to ensure your car wont roll away while parked. Anybody with a manual transmission knows the ritual of shifting into 1 or Reverse and turning their wheels toward the curb while parked even while the parking brake is engaged.

They won't serve you in an emergency. Here's Mitch Hedberg on "Emergency brake": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMKV1B0vuI8

[fy20]

It will if maintained properly. If you don't use it often it becomes loose and won't hold.

In my part of Europe it's the main issue for technical inspections, as most people drive automatic and we don't have hills, so we just put it in P when we park. The handbrake rarely gets used.