stopped at a traffic light, a pedestrian crossing, or simply waiting to turn in front of oncoming traffic. The parking brake would ensure the car is secure, should another vehicle come into physical contact from behind, causing the car to jolt forward. It is not recommended to use the parking brake when the vehicle is in-motion, unless there is a problem with the main brakes, as this can lock the back wheels and cause a skid. This is known as a handbrake turn, which is often performed in street racing and off-road rally racing to initiate rear wheel drift. In the event of hydraulic brake failure, the parking brake can be used to slow a vehicle. In such cases, the lever should be slowly engaged to prevent locking up the wheels and reduce speed. Parking brake variations The position of the parking brake differs between vehicle models and manufacturers. However, a universal feature is either one or two of the warning lights which appear on the dashboard when the parking brake is engaged. Center or stick lever The most common placement of the parking brake is in the center console of the vehicle, in between the driver and front passenger seats. Operating the brake is performed by pulling the lever up (which is connected to a ratchet) until there is tension. To disengage the brake, the button is held while simultaneously pulling the lever up to disengage the ratchet and then pushed all the way down with the button still held. In older vehicle models, a stick lever may be used instead which is located under the instrument panel. Pedal or pull handle Some vehicles have the parking brake operated by a small foot pedal, located by the other pedals. Depressing the foot pedal would engage the brake and pressing it again will release it. A pull handle variation also exists; by pulling or releasing the handle, this engages and releases the parking brake, respectively. Many vehicles have a combination of the two; a pedal to engage the brake and a handle to release it. Electronic A recent development is the electronic parking brake, also known as an electric park brake. Introduced to the mainstream market in 2001, it was first used in the 2001 BMW 7 Series (E65). Two variations are available: In the more-traditional "cable-pulling" type, an electric motor simply pulls the parking brake cable on the push