Now the time I broke down on the hard shoulder with a minibus full of children, the police insisted I keep them in the vehicle, even though it was a seriously hot day and there was an empty field I could have moved them into. They even sent a patrol car to check that I hadn't let them out! Was some time ago mind you.

The nature of my work takes me into contact with the Highways Agency, I did ask them why they park near a broken down vehicle with all the lights flashing for 30 minutes or more whilst sat in the vehicle twiddling their thumbs, thus causing motorists to slow down for a gaup, they said that if some sees something they unwittingly drive towards it, to which I replied "so why park with it and have all the light going and attracting attention to it whereas if you didn't have all the flashing lights on people wouldn't be attracted to it"

Having been hit by a car travelling at 90 on a motorway i was whilst stationary I can assure you get away from your car ASAP ! It's all over in a flash ! And it has life changing consequences !

As for the handbrake there is an emergency unjam handbrake facility on a diagnostic platform that powers the calliper off at the side of the road to save recovery ! Breakdown people normally have that function but some don't even know they have the function or how to use it

I have used this. Emergency function several times and works a treat.