handbrake turn
An automobile driving manoeuvre where the driver starts turning the vehicle and then pulls on the handbrake to make the rear tyres lose adhesion and thus cause the back of the vehicle to slide around (in the direction of the turn).
handbrake turn: controlled skid for rapid direction change
A handbrake turn is a vehicle manoeuvre in which the driver initiates a sharp turn while simultaneously engaging the handbrake (parking brake) to break traction at the rear axle. The rear tyres lock or slip, causing the back of the vehicle to slide outward in the direction of the turn, rotating the chassis more sharply than steering input alone would achieve. The manoeuvre is completed by releasing the handbrake and applying power once the desired heading is reached.
This technique works because the handbrake acts on the rear wheels only, typically through mechanical cable linkage to the drum or disc brakes. When pulled hard during forward motion and a turn, it creates a sudden, asymmetric loss of grip: the rear slides while the front maintains some steering authority. The result is a larger change of direction in a shorter distance than conventional steering. Vehicle weight, tyre grip, speed, and brake force all determine how aggressive the slide becomes.
Conditions and variables
Handbrake turns are most effective on surfaces with moderate friction: loose gravel, damp tarmac, or snow. Wet asphalt and low-grip surfaces make the manoeuvre unpredictable; high-friction dry asphalt may not permit enough slip to rotate the vehicle effectively. Speed matters critically. Too slow and the vehicle will not have enough momentum to overcome grip; too fast and the slide becomes uncontrollable. Most handbrake turns are performed at speeds between 20 and 50 km/h, depending on surface and vehicle setup.
Modern vehicles with electronic stability control (ESC) and ABS systems actively resist handbrake turns by automatically modulating brake pressure and engine torque to prevent rear-wheel lockup. Some vehicles allow ESC to be disabled for controlled driving exercises, but in normal road driving, these systems override or prevent the manoeuvre entirely. Older vehicles with mechanical brakes and no electronic intervention are far more amenable to the technique.
Handbrake turns have little practical use in legal driving. They appear in stunt driving, motorsport training, and vehicle recovery situations where rapid direction change in confined space is necessary. The term is sometimes used colloquially to describe any skid-based turn, but the specific definition requires deliberate handbrake engagement as the primary control input.