A good driver will rarely have to perform an emergency stop as he or she is always on the look out for potentially dangerous situations and will act accordingly. Never the less, a situation may arise that could not have been anticipated and consequently the only course of action is to undertake an emergency stop.
On the driving test the examiner may or may no task you to do an emergency stop. It is optional and will depend on whether or not they find time to do it. Generally speaking, 1 in 3 driving test will contain an emergency stop exercise.
If the examiner wants you to do an emergency stop they will ask you to pull up and tell you that it is time to do an emergency stop. They will tell you that when they give the signal(usually raising their hand and shouting stop) you should stop the car as if a small child has stepped out in front of you.
For the emergency stop a quick reaction is crucial. The earlier you brake, the sooner you will stop. When stopping in an emergency;
- There is no need to check your mirrors before stopping in an emergency
- You should keep a firm grip on the steering wheel with both hands and brace your arms to avoid being thrown forward
- Use the foot brake first, and then depress the clutch just before you stop. This will help braking and increase stability
- Don’t signal as you need both hands on the wheel
- Stop as quickly and safely as possible, making sure you keep full control of your vehicle
- Only apply the handbrake after you have stopped.
My driving school car has an Anti-lock braking system (ABS); the brakes will not lock which helps to avoid skidding.The ABS makes it easier to steer under harsh braking. When you press the foot brake firmly you may feel the system working under your foot. The brake pedal may pulse but you must keep it firmly pressed.
Some older cars may not be equipped with ABS, but most new cars have it fitted as standard. If do not have ABS on your car and it starts to skid, you should manually come off the brake pedal then apply it again. This should be done very quickly so that you still stop in the shortest distance possible.
Once it is clear to continue driving use POM(prepare, observe, manoeuvre) and make sure you move off safely. It is important to check both blind spots here as you may be in the middle of the road.
There is also no need to signal before moving off again as we are just continuing forward and not actually changing direction. Do not move off if it is unsafe, for instance, a car behind may be about to pass you on the right. Be sure you understand the actions of others before continuing along.
