[Novablue]

I'm not to up on the electric parking break but with a manual parking break in my MB I just engage it and that locks the back wheels. Was never sure what the fronts were doing but I would guess that ABS is still operating and maintaining some sort of steerage. Not sure how this would work for you. The parking break is a very useful tool and going to this electric one is the only thing on the OB and many new cars I don't care for. Could be I just need to get used to it but for the life of me I don't know why you would pull out a purely mechanical emergency break. Anyway just a thought, I don't live where snow is that much of an issue.

My power ebrake functioned like abs when i did a panic stop with it at 25mph. Well sort of, they locked up... Then released... Locked up... Released... Till the car stopped.

Wish I had a manual one.

 

[Novablue]

My park brake is the drum hat style where there are rear drum shoes inside the rotor.
That being said they are not designed to be used for a panic or everyday braking as the shoes under that stress tend to break.
Not sure if your newer OBs have the ratchet style calipers but I definitely wouldn't use the e brake for trying to stop in a slippery situation. Unles it was the most
Absolute last resort.

I agree. The new ebrake should only really be used this way in true emergency situations. I however believe in testing equipment in non-emergency situations first. The last thing you want to do in an emergency is find out how something works.