Using the electronic parking brake or the P button whilst driving at speed??

[wandle MG4 trophy]

I’m curious about what would happen if I pulled up the Electronic Parking Brake (the lever next to the gear selector) or pressed the big P button whilst driving at speed.

The reason for asking is that I may be accompanying a very inexperienced new driver and wonder what the best response from me would be if they lost control of the car or were about to hit something. Obviously this would be a very last resort as an intervention like this could in itself be very dangerous.

As an experiment I tried pulling up the brake lever when I was driving at a 4 mph and the car came to a very sudden stop. Would the car do a controlled emergency stop at higher speeds? What would happen if I pressed the P button at speed? Thanks in advance.

 

[MG Clive]

I’m curious about what would happen if I pulled up the Electronic Parking Brake (the lever next to the gear selector) or pressed the big P button whilst driving at speed.

If you pull the EPB lever, the rear brakes will be applied, and the vehicle will stop, but only if you pull and hold the lever, if you just flick it up and let it go, nothing will happen.

Not sure about the P button, but I don't think the car will allow anything to happen, it would be very dangerous.

 

[Tuareg]

Why don't you try it yourself on a quiet road or big empty car park. For your new driver, set the drive mode to 'ECO' before they pull away.

 

[GaryMG4]

Hopefully the 'P' button will have a software interlock, otherwise inserting the pawl will probably destroy the gearbox. Of course that's if you trust the software!