Emergency stop Flashcards
Emergency stop
A quick reaction is crucial in an emergency.
The sooner you start braking the sooner you will stop.
Stopping in an emergency increases the risk of skidding.
The harder you brake the more likely the wheels are to lock up and skid.
In general
Keep both hands on the wheel
Squeeze the foot brake hard but don’t stamp or lock the wheels up - be as firm as poss
Save the clutch till last
Make sure you stop as quickly and safely as possible
Handbrake, neutral
In general
Keep both hands on the wheel
Squeeze the foot brake hard but don’t stamp or lock the
wheels up - be as firm as possible
Save the clutch till last
Make sure you stop as quickly and safely as possible
Handbrake, neutral
Should not while braking
Signal, your brake lights should be doing that for you
Put the handbrake on as you could lock up your rear wheels
When come to move on
Make sure you have a good look all around you - 6 point check
This means checking both blind spots
Defensive driving
Driving defensively can sometimes reduce the need to make an emergency stop
It’s useful to remember that tyres with lots of tread will help your car to stop in a shorter distance.
Regular checks of your tyres will help keep you and others safe.
How to avoid an emergency
Look well ahead at all times
Watch out for children playing or children near to the road
Take extra care at the beginning and end of the school day
Look out for pedestrians on or near the road
Always drive at an appropriate speed
Be prepared at all times for the unexpected
ABS
Your car may be fitted with ABS brakes, this will assist your car to not skid if the brakes are applied harshly.
ABS will stop your cars wheels from locking, which will mean you are able to continue to steer.
ABS does not always reduce your stopping distance.
If your car does have ABS then you should still drive carefully at all times.
ABS does not always prevent your car from skidding especially if the road is wet or has a loose road surface.
Always check your vehicle handbook to see if your car has ABS.
There will normally be an amber warning light on the dashboard as well.
Should feel it kick in during emergency stop (vibrates pedal)
Weather / road conditions
If the road is wet, or has a loose road surface then your car may be more likely to skid if the brakes are suddenly applied.
Always pay attention to the road surface you are driving on in case you need to perform an emergency stop.
On a slippery surface such as an icy road, your car’s stopping distance can be up to ten times further than a dry road.
Skidding
Skidding is best avoided. It is normally caused by the driver driving too fast for the road and conditions.
Overall you have a responsibility to be able to stop your car in the distance that you can see is clear.
This means you have to take account of the road and the conditions.
There are a number of different technologies in use to help you prevent skidding.
ABS which we touched on above.
Traction control which is often combined with ABS to give ESC which is electronic stability control.
It is your responsibility to know how if your car has them and how to use them. Read your vehicle handbook.
If your car does not have these aids.
When you brake harshly your car may begin to skid.
The heavier the brakes are applied the more weight goes to the front of the car and the more difficult your car will be to control.
If car begins to skid
Release the brake pedal fully
To bring your wheels into line again turn into the skid e.g. if the rear of your car is going right, steer to the right. Be careful not to overcorrect and steer to far
If the front wheels are also sliding release the accelerator and don’t try to steer until the wheels regain some grip
