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Surely, it stands to reason, that ALL drivers should be
capable of stopping the vehicle safely in an emergency.
If you drive safely in the first place, staying alert and reading the road and traffic conditions well ahead and reacting early to changing situations and hazards, you should normally be able to avoid a situation where you need to stop very quickly.
However, even the most experienced of drivers can
occasionally get caught out, possibly through a momentary lack of concentration.
On the driving test, one in three candidates will be asked
to demonstrate their ability to stop the vehicle as if in an emergency.
The examiner will ask you to pull up on the left, and will then tell you that he will shortly ask you to stop the vehicle as if in an emergency and as if a child had run out in front of you. He will demonstrate the signal he will give you, and then ask you to drive on. When the examiner is sure it is safe to do so, he will give you the signal to stop.
The main requirements are:
1. To stop the vehicle in the shortest distance possible
2. To keep the vehicle in a straight line
3. To stop the vehicle without locking the road wheels (skidding)
It is very important to keep your eyes on the road ahead, and keep both hands firmly on the steering wheel until the car has stopped completely.
Then apply the handbrake and select neutral. When the
examiner asks you to drive on, look all round to make sure it is safe to move off, signal if necessary, and move off only when you are sure it is safe to do so.
Your Instructor will teach you how to stop your vehicle in an emergency, under control and safely, but bear in mind that you will need plenty of practice on this exercise to become sufficiently competent.
You will also learn about the main causes of skidding,
which are:
Harsh Braking
Harsh Acceleration
Harsh Steering
and how to correct these skids, which are, of course, best avoided in the first place.
Click below for more detailed information on these three
manoeuvres:
TURN IN ROAD
REVERSE PARKING
REVERSE ROUND CORNER
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