[simboc2004]

I have had two occasions in my motoring life (45 years) when use of the handbrake saved me from accident - once in a FWD Ford Fiesta XR2 (pre ABS) when the car in front lost control in the snow and spun in front of me - I entered rapidly into an emergency handbrake assisted, tail-out slow down (which worked). Just braking would have meant I slid into the car blocking the road.

The other time was, again, in the snow, but this time in one of my RWD Volvo 940 estates. On this occasion a large single decker bus decided to pull out of a side road in Ipswich and fill the only available carriageway; I flicked the back of the "old wagon" out with the hand brake and opposite lock to slow it and enable me to then power into the packed snow on the left side of the road. A near miss. Must have looked impressive, a Volvo wagon hanging its back right out...