Stuff of nightmares - Poor beautiful motorhome

[T1 Terry]

It can happen so easily, there is no unification of how parking brakes operate. Remember the old HQ and onwards Holdens, the brake lever didn't stay up to show the park brake was applied, some are a pedal you push down will others are a handle you pull out. Truck with air brakes have a number of different air brake valves, some you push in to apply, others you push in to release. The workshop at Road Master Haulage in Lidcombe was 3 parts destroyed by a truck rolling down the car park complete with trailer attached. It was a rented truck, been driven by a very experienced driver, but not all that familiar with the different type of park brake valve, he thought he’s hit the button to apply the park brake, the woosh he heard was him releasing the foot brake not the spring brake applying. It's not that unusual to park a truck in neutral, those with air assist clutches as virtually impossible to get out of gear once they have lost their air pressure, often trucks have turbo timers that allow the engine to run at idle for a few minutes after the ignition is turned off to allow a cool down cycle, the drver rarely sits in the truck waiting for it to stop, they are in ordering dinner by the time the engine cuts out.