‘Sorry I Can’t Come to Work:’ Woman’s Boyfriend Parks Her Car. Then She Realizes That He Cranked the Parking Brake Way Too Hard

"I work at an auto body shop, don’t let him do that again. He’s going to make the rivet snap and the e brake fail."

Photo by: TikTok

Stacy Fernandez

By: Stacy Fernandez

Aug 5, 2025 at 5:00am ET

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Sometimes we do things for our partners with the purest of intentions, and it ends up doing more harm than good.

That’s what happened to this woman who was stuck in her car because of a simple thing her boyfriend did.

Why Would He Do This?

In the viral TikTok, which has more than 10.2 million views, content creator Milly (@millyclare1xo) shared what happened after her boyfriend drove her car.

Milly is in her car, seemingly about to go to work, when she notices she can’t move her vehicle. Her boyfriend put the hand brake up, and it’s stuck in position.

“Sorry I can’t come to work my boyfriend put my hand brake up,” Milly said in the on-screen caption.

Throughout the video, you can see that she’s using all of her physical power to put the brake back in position, but it’s futile.

“Literally, oh my God,” Milly says as she pouts at the camera, on the verge of giving up.

While Milly never posted a follow-up video updating viewers on her situation, we think it’s safe to say that she eventually figured it out or got some help.

Why Did She Turn Off the Comments?

In a follow-up video, Milly shared that the comment section was so full of mansplainers (if you don’t know what that is, ask a dude to tell you) who assumed she knew nothing about cars.

“I obviously know how to use a handbrake, I’ve been driving 3 years, I just couldn’t lift it at that height, what aren’t people understanding?” Milly said in the on-screen caption.

“State of these comments... and [they] wonder why there’s a male loneliness epidemic,” one viewer responded to the original video.

What Is a Handbrake?

The handbrake—also known as the parking brake, emergency brake, or e-brake—is a secondary braking system used primarily to keep your vehicle stationary when parked, Driving Tests explained.

While traditionally operated by a mechanical lever between the front seats, newer cars often feature electronic versions controlled by a button or switch. Some models also use a pedal to engage the handbrake, typically located on the far left of the driver’s footwell.

Mechanical handbrakes are gradually being phased out in favor of electronic ones, which offer more cabin space and fewer sharp edges.

Regardless of type, the handbrake acts on the rear wheels of the vehicle and operates independently from the main hydraulic foot brake.

When to use your handbrake

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Despite the name, the handbrake isn’t just for emergencies. You’re meant to use it regularly, especially when parked. According to The Driving Test, here’s when it matters most:

When parking: For both automatic and manual cars, the handbrake helps secure your vehicle in place, especially on hills. In automatics, you’re supposed to apply the handbrake before shifting into Park, which keeps the car’s weight off the transmission. In manuals, pair it with gear selection: reverse for downhill, first for uphill, neutral on flat ground.
On a hill in traffic: In stop-start traffic while driving a manual, the handbrake keeps your car from rolling backward and frees up your feet to use the clutch and gas without panicking.
While waiting at an intersection: A courtesy move. If someone rear-ends you while your foot’s on the brake, the car may lurch forward. With the handbrake on, you reduce the chance of hitting the car in front. Bonus: your brake lights won’t be blinding the driver behind you at night.
In an emergency: If your main brakes fail (a rare but real possibility), the handbrake can act as backup. Just don’t expect miracles; handbrakes only apply force to the rear wheels and are significantly weaker than foot brakes.

Motor1 reached out to Milly for comment via TikTok direct message and comment.