Woman wonders why her Japanese car feels off after 25 seconds in driving. Then has the worst realization: ‘Sad to inform you’

A woman’s TikTok video showing her driving with the handbrake still up has gathered attention online. The clip, posted by a creator based in Bali, Indonesia, who goes by @itsfriti, received more than 6 million views and over 900 comments.

The video shows Friti driving a car, filmed from the passenger seat. On-screen text on the clip reads, “watch me realize I didn’t put the handbrake down.” She is seen driving along a city road before glancing down at the center console and appearing to notice the handbrake was still up.

Friti quickly reaches down to lower the handbrake while continuing to drive. She then looks back at the road with what appears to be a shocked expression. The caption on the post reads, “no but why am i able to drive with it on like that’s not my fault 🤨 (haha jk).”

Driver reacts with shock after noticing handbrake was still engaged

Driving with a handbrake, also known as a parking brake or emergency brake, engaged is generally understood to potentially cause damage to a vehicle’s braking system over time, though the extent of any damage can depend on factors such as distance traveled and speed. 

According to Car From Japan, one telltale sign that the handbrake is still active is a burning smell caused by overheated brake pads. If ignored, it can lead to brake damage.

If you forget to release the handbrake before driving, it’s unlikely to cause permanent damage if you’ve only traveled a short distance or at a low speed. However, driving for an extended period at high speed, such as an hour or two at 80 mph, might cause serious damage. Although the video did not specify how long the woman had been driving with the handbrake up before she noticed. Other drivers have run into brake-related issues of their own, including one woman who tried a trick to stop squeaky brakes that mechanics later warned against.

Commenters on the video responded with a mix of jokes and technical observations. One user, identified as Sensayo, wrote, “Well.. sad to inform you, but your handbrake is gone.” Another commenter wrote, “there’s a light on the dash it’s not there for decoration.”

Other viewers questioned how the car was able to move at all with the handbrake engaged. A user named Chime Yoon commented, “how are you even moving?” A separate commenter wrote, “I’m confused how your car is moving with it up in the first place,” a remark accompanied by a laughing emoji. Brake-related warnings from car dealers have also drawn attention online, including a case in which a dealership told a customer she needed a brake fluid change she was skeptical about it.