dead man's handle

British  

noun

1. a safety switch on a piece of machinery, such as a train, that allows operation only while depressed by the operator

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Example Sentences

Drivers said a safety device, known as "a dead man's handle", failed to activate and stop their trams.

From BBC

Another driver told the BBC of a dead man's handle failure in May 2016.

From BBC

On some lines, the continued use of older trains means that drivers themselves use a lever known as the "dead man's handle" to move them between stations.

From BBC

I dropped the dead man's handle, the train started to slow and then I saw him jump.

From New York Times

Suddenly the automatic signals went from green to red, the Duke of Kent removed his hand from the "dead man's handle" and the trainload of ordinary passengers, who had no idea who their motorman was, screeched to an abrupt automatic stop.

From Time Magazine Archive