An email alert from the DSA (this is an old post – it’s DVSA now, of course):
Electronic parking brakes suitable for tests
- Vehicles with electronic parking brakes can be used for tests
- Change from 1 November 2010
- DSA responds to advances in vehicle technology
From 1 November vehicles fitted with an electronic parking brake will be allowed to be used for practical driving tests.
There are usually two ways of releasing an electronic parking brake:
- using the footbrake while releasing the parking brake, then coordinating the accelerator and clutch to move away
- coordinating the accelerator and clutch – when the electronics sense the clutch is at biting point the parking brake releases automatically
The parking brake will not usually release automatically if:
- the accelerator is not used
- the controls are not coordinated correctly
If there is no loss of control either method is acceptable.
If the examiner needs to take action to stop the vehicle, and it’s not fitted with dual controls, they will apply and hold the electronic parking brake – this will bring the vehicle to a controlled stop.
Advances in technology
To begin with, electronic parking brakes were fitted only to top of the range vehicles. DSA decided not to allow manual vehicles fitted with them to be used for driving tests.
Electronic parking brakes are now being fitted to an increasing number of vehicles, so it’s unrealistic to continue this policy.
Useful links:
Well, if people want to buy something that is unnecessarily complex and will cost more to maintain and repair then it’s their problem.
I teach learners to do manoeuvres with no gas to begin with. That way, they have to learn how to control it without stalling. Once they are able to do it then they can use gas if they wish (and I’m happy we’re not going to end up in someone’s front room). But these fancy cars won’t allow that: they will need gas otherwise the parking brake won’t release.
Not much of a problem, but why change something that works fine in its existing form? I, for one, will not be getting one of these as a tuition vehicle. That’s for sure.