If you often park in urban areas, especially on narrow streets or in front of shops, you are probably familiar with parallel parking. It looks easy: just pull the car up parallel to the curb, apply the handbrake, and you're done. But it turns out that there is a big risk in relying solely on the handbrake to hold the car in place.

For drivers who want their cars to remain safe and stable when parallel parking, there are several important things to consider. From proper parking techniques to handbrake maintenance, everything is directly related to safety.

Why Shouldn't You Rely Solely on the Handbrake When Parallel Parking?

The handbrake is designed to hold the vehicle in a stationary position, but the system works mechanically and has limitations. This is especially true when the car is parked on a downhill or uphill road. The risks that may arise include:

• The car slides on its own → if the brake cable is worn out or the handbrake is not pulled properly, the car can slowly slide.
• Brake pads wear out quickly → holding the weight of the car for a long time causes the brake components to wear out quickly.
• Danger to the surroundings → a car that suddenly moves can injure pedestrians or hit other vehicles.

That's why parallel parking should not rely solely on the handbrake.

Safe Parallel Parking Methods

To ensure peace of mind and vehicle stability, there are several safer alternatives:

• Use a low gear or P position (for automatic vehicles) → Holding the vehicle with the transmission is much more effective than the parking brake.
• Turn the wheels toward the curb → This simple step can prevent the vehicle from rolling onto the road if the parking brake fails.
• Use the foot brake briefly → before moving the gear lever to P or neutral on a slope, press the foot brake first to keep the car stable.

Combining these methods makes the car much safer than relying on just one component.

Handbrake Maintenance is Still Important

Although it should not be the main restraint when parallel parking, the handbrake must still be maintained. Make sure the cable, lever, and pads are checked regularly. A healthy handbrake is very useful, especially in emergency situations when the car needs to be held immediately.

By regularly servicing the handbrake, drivers can be more confident, while also extending the life of the brake components.

Conclusion

Parallel parking is indeed a mandatory skill, especially for those who often drive in congested areas. But don't just pull the handbrake and feel safe. Use the transmission, turn the wheels toward the curb, and maintain the brake system regularly.

With the right technique, not only will the car be more stable, but the safety of the driver and those around them will also be better protected.

Indonesia 🇮🇩

Kenapa Parkir Paralel Nggak Boleh Cuma Rem Tangan? Ini Alasannya

Kalau sering parkir di perkotaan, terutama di jalan-jalan sempit atau depan toko, pasti sudah akrab dengan teknik parkir paralel. Kelihatannya gampang, tinggal masukin mobil sejajar dengan trotoar, tarik rem tangan, lalu beres. Tapi ternyata, ada risiko besar kalau kita terlalu mengandalkan rem tangan sebagai satu-satunya penahan mobil.

Buat pengemudi yang ingin mobilnya tetap aman dan stabil saat parkir paralel, ada beberapa hal penting yang perlu diperhatikan. Mulai dari teknik parkir yang benar sampai perawatan rem tangan, semuanya berhubungan langsung dengan keselamatan.

Kenapa Parkir Paralel Nggak Boleh Hanya Mengandalkan Rem Tangan?

Rem tangan memang didesain buat menahan kendaraan dalam posisi diam, tapi sistemnya bekerja secara mekanis dan punya keterbatasan. Apalagi kalau mobil diparkir di jalan menurun atau menanjak. Risiko yang bisa muncul, antara lain:

• Mobil geser sendiri → kalau kabel rem aus atau rem tangan nggak ditarik sempurna, mobil bisa perlahan meluncur.
• Kampas rem cepat aus → menahan beban mobil dalam waktu lama bikin komponen rem cepat rusak.
• Bahaya buat sekitar → mobil yang tiba-tiba bergerak bisa mencelakai pejalan kaki atau menabrak kendaraan lain.

Itulah kenapa parkir paralel sebaiknya nggak bergantung penuh pada rem tangan.

Cara Aman Parkir Paralel

Biar lebih tenang dan mobil tetap stabil, ada beberapa alternatif yang lebih aman:

• Gunakan gigi rendah atau posisi P (untuk mobil matic) → menahan mobil dengan transmisi jauh lebih kuat daripada rem tangan.
• Putar roda ke arah trotoar → langkah sederhana ini bisa mencegah mobil meluncur ke jalan kalau rem tangan gagal.
• Gunakan rem kaki sebentar → sebelum memindahkan tuas ke P atau netral di jalan miring, injak rem kaki dulu agar posisi mobil tetap stabil.

Kombinasi cara ini bikin mobil jauh lebih aman dibanding hanya mengandalkan satu komponen saja.

Perawatan Rem Tangan Tetap Penting

Walaupun sebaiknya tidak jadi penahan utama saat parkir paralel, rem tangan tetap wajib dirawat. Pastikan kabel, tuas, dan kampasnya dicek rutin. Rem tangan yang sehat sangat berguna, terutama dalam kondisi darurat ketika mobil butuh ditahan seketika.

Dengan rutin servis rem tangan, pengemudi bisa lebih percaya diri, sekaligus memperpanjang usia pakai komponen rem.

Kesimpulan

Parkir paralel memang jadi skill wajib, apalagi buat yang sering berkendara di area padat. Tapi jangan asal tarik rem tangan dan merasa aman. Gunakan transmisi, putar roda ke arah trotoar, dan rawat sistem rem secara rutin.

Dengan teknik yang benar, bukan cuma mobil yang lebih stabil, tapi juga keselamatan pengemudi dan orang sekitar bisa lebih terjaga.