"No Engine Brakes"

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[CNYMike]

I was on vacation in Maine last month and while in the Bangor area I somtimes saw signs that said something like "Trucks -- no engine brakes." Does that refer to truckers coasting instead of hitting their brakes? If so, why? If not, what is it?

Definitely not Aikido-related, but something that has bugged me.

Mike

[ChrisMoses]

Hoooooooooonk.....

clickity (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engine_braking)

[dps]

Also,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jake_brake

David

[mwpowell]

I was on vacation in Maine last month and while in the Bangor area I somtimes saw signs that said something like "Trucks -- no engine brakes." Does that refer to truckers coasting instead of hitting their brakes? If so, why? If not, what is it?

Engine braking is when a truck (or any vehicle with a standard transmission) shifts into a lower gear and lets the greater torque of the engine serve to slow them down. This really revs up the engine, which can be quite loud...which is why many cities and residential areas have restrictions on it.

mark