"Jeff Strickland" > wrote in message
...
> You are not required to mash the pedals to the floor. It's okay to lightly
> push them.

I did say for normal slowing down in my post.
IOW when lightly braking, the pressure required on the pedal is not enough
to hold me in the seat.

> The hand brake is intended to keep a stationary car it rest, it is not
> intended to bring a moving car to a halt. Yes, it can do that when called
> upon, but that is not its job, and its failure to do that as well as the
> main brakes should not be considered a fault. For one thing, the brake
> pads for the parking brake have less than half of the mechanical advantage
> as the main brakes -- they are considerably smaller in surface area, and
> they haven't the force (leverage) aplied that the main brakes have. For
> another thing, they call it a Parking Brake for a reason.

I do know what a handbrake or parking brake should be capable of.
My drive has a slight slope. Unless I really heave on it, the car will still
roll. My wife would never be able to pull it on enough.
Mike.