Braking

Safe and controlled braking is vital to good driving. Try to slow down gradually and smoothly.

Anticipation

If you anticipate properly, you’ll seldom need to brake fiercely.

Good anticipation will give you time to brake progressively over a longer distance.

Late, harsh braking is a sign of poor anticipation and of reduced safety margins.

Braking and steering

Braking shifts the weight of the vehicle forward. This can make steering more difficult.

If you have to brake hard, try to do so when you’re travelling in a straight line.

Whenever you brake, you should consider

• the safety and peace of mind of everyone concerned, including your passengers
• wear and tear on brakes, tyres and suspension
• vehicles behind you whose brakes might not be as powerful as yours.\

Braking on bends

If you have to brake on a bend, remember that the weight of the vehicle is thrown outwards as well as forwards. The front tyre on the outside of the curve will have an increased load on it and this can lead to skidding.

Road surface conditions can have a big effect in these situations. Watch for uneven, loose or slippery surfaces.

Think ahead

Think well ahead to avoid the need for harsh, uncontrolled braking.

You should never drive too fast or too close to the vehicle in front. Other drivers might be affected by your actions.

Always use your mirrors before braking and give yourself plenty of space.

Consider

• your own speed of reaction
• the size and weight of your vehicle and its load
• the gradient of the road
• whether the road has a camber or bend
• the weather and visibility
• the road surface. Is it rough, smooth, loose, wet, muddy, or covered with wet leaves, ice or snow?

Five rules for good braking

1. Anticipate. Think and look well ahead.
2. Know your own limitations and those of your vehicle.
3. Take note of the state of the road and its surface.
4. Give yourself plenty of time and distance to brake progressively.
5. Avoid the risk of skidding, rather than trying to control it.

Defensive driving

If the vehicle behind is too close, slow down gradually to increase your distance from the vehicle ahead so that you can avoid having to brake suddenly.

Stopping

The drill for stopping is always the same, except in an emergency. You must learn it thoroughly from the beginning.

The amount of pressure you need to apply to the footbrake depends on

• your speed
• how quickly you need to stop.

To stop you should

• use the mirrors
• decide whether you need to signal your intention to stop
• signal if necessary
• take your foot off the accelerator. The engine will slow down
• push down the brake pedal lightly with your right foot and then more firmly (see ‘Progressive braking’, later in this section)
• press the clutch pedal right down with your left foot just before the vehicle stops. This disengages the engine from the driving wheels and prevents stalling. Don’t do it too soon; the engine’s resistance helps slow the vehicle down
• ease the pressure off the footbrake just as the vehicle stops • apply the parking brake
• put the gear lever into neutral
• take both feet off the pedals.

Changing down before you stop

When stopping normally, you can stop in the gear that you’re in; you don’t necessarily have to change down. However, your vehicle should always be in the right gear for the road speed and conditions.

Progressive braking

This is a safe driving technique that

• allows other drivers time to react
• prevents skidding
• saves wear and tear on brakes, tyres and suspension
• uses less fuel than harsh braking
• is more comfortable for your passengers.

To brake progressively

• put light pressure on the brake at first
• gradually increase the pressure as required to stop the vehicle
• when the vehicle has almost stopped, ease off the pressure so that the vehicle stops smoothly. There should be little or no pressure as the vehicle actually stops.

Practise

Find a quiet road and make sure you won’t affect another road user. Choose a particular point at which you would like to stop. See how near to it you can get.

It’s better to stop short of the mark than to overshoot it. You can always ease off the brakes and run forward a bit more.

Stopping at the kerb needs practice too. Aim to stop reasonably close to the kerb without hitting it.

Keep full control of the steering so that you can accurately position the car as you stop.