Gasoline vehicles: The braking occurs when you’re in gear and take your foot off the accelerator. That’s because the throttle valve (which is in control of airflow into the engine) closes, leading to a decrease of air and creating a vacuum. This vacuum slows down the vehicle because it makes it harder for the engine cylinders to work, creating the force that slows the truck.

Diesel vehicles: Diesel engines don’t typically have throttle valves like gasoline engines do. Therefore, the manufacturer will add a throttle valve to the exhaust side. When the pistons force exhaust out, the throttle will close and create pressure, which resists the engine and slows the truck.

Exhaust braking: like engine braking, is all in the name. With this braking process, the exhaust path for the truck is closed. Because there is nowhere for the exhaust to go, it is compressed, creating force on the engine’s pistons that slows the truck. This is due to the back-pressure (the reversed movement of the exhaust gases back toward the engine). It’s so effective that drivers don’t even need to put their foot on the brake to slow down much of the time.

Regenerative braking systems (RBSs) are a type of kinetic energy recovery system that transfers the kinetic energy of an object in motion into potential or stored energy to slow the vehicle down, and as a result increases fuel efficiency.[2] These systems are also called kinetic energy recovery systems. There are multiple methods of energy conversion in RBSs including spring, flywheel, electromagnetic and hydraulic. More recently, an electromagnetic-flywheel hybrid RBS has emerged as well. Each type of RBS utilizes a different energy conversion or storage method, giving varying efficiency and applications for each type.

RBSs are installed along the drive train or fitted to the drive wheels of a vehicle where they inhibit the motion of the wheels using magnetic fields or mechanical torque. These methods of motion inhibition allow energy to be generated under braking, as opposed to friction brakes which simply waste away energy to slow the vehicle by turning the kinetic energy into thermal energy. Due to the maximum charging rate of the energy storage mechanisms, the braking force from a RBS is limited. Therefore, a traditional friction brake system is required to maintain the safe operation of a vehicle when heavy braking is necessary. RBS can improve fuel consumption and reduce the overall braking load taken on by the vehicles friction brakes, reducing the wear on the brake pads.[3]

RBSs are used in almost every electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles. In addition, public transportation such as buses and bullet trains make use of RBSs to decrease the environmental impacts of the transportation fleet and save money.

In road vehicles, the parking brake, also known as a handbrake or emergency brake (e-brake), is a mechanism used to keep the vehicle securely motionless when parked. Parking brakes often consist of a cable connected to two wheel brakes, which is then connected to a pulling mechanism. In most vehicles, the parking brake operates only on the rear wheels, which have reduced traction while braking. The mechanism may be a hand-operated lever, a straight pull handle located near the steering column or a foot-operated pedal located with the other pedals.

While most automatic transmission vehicles have parking brakes, it is often not engaged by drivers when parking. However, it is recommended to use it, as the parking pawl in the gearbox could fail due to stress or another vehicle striking the car, causing the car to roll.  Also, regular use of the parking brake reduces the chance of corrosion by keeping the cables in-motion. In manual transmission vehicles, the parking brake can be engaged to help keep the vehicle stationary. When parking on an uphill gradient, it is recommended that the front wheels face away from the curb. This would prevent the car from rolling into the roadway by using the curb to block the front passenger tire in the event of a parking brake failure. Similarly, on a downhill gradient, the front wheels should face the curb for the same reason, and the wheels should face to the right on an uncurbed road regardless of orientation. In a manual transmission, leaving the car in first gear (or in reverse if pointing downhill) is also advised, as the engine will prevent the car from rolling if the parking brake fails.

The parking brake in most vehicles is still completely mechanical. Traditionally engaged by pulling a lever, the cables manually engage part of the car's braking system, usually the rear disk or drum brakes. The mechanical nature allows the driver to apply the brake even if the main hydraulic brake system fails.

Pictograph symbols and/or lights may be used to indicate the location of a parking brake, its application or release.

• Improved stopping power means cars can travel faster while still stopping safely.

• The increased speed is a double-edged sword, because although cars now travel faster they are potentially less safe, as other systems such as suspension and steering need to be upgraded to deal with increased speeds.

• With the advent of drum brakes motor manufacturers started to fit four wheel brakes, thus making cars safer.

• The drum brake handles poor weather conditions better than the contracting band brake, so it is possible to use the car in rain and snow; previously that may have been dangerous.

• Cars are more effective at stopping at higher speeds.

• Improved heat dissipation over the drum brakes means safer continual braking effort (such as is required when descending a hill).

• Disc brakes provide improved braking in poor weather conditions.

• They are easily adapted to computer controls such as ABS.