You are driving a car fitted with anti-lock brakes (ABS) down a steep downhill gradient on a wet asphalt road when an unexpected hazard suddenly blocks your lane. How should you apply the footbrake to execute an emergency stop while maintaining vehicle control?
- APump the footbrake pedal rapidly on and off to manually prevent the wheels from locking and skidding.
- Apply the footbrake firmly and hold it down continuously without releasing pressure until the vehicle has stopped.Answer
- CDepress the clutch pedal fully and apply light, intermittent pressure to the footbrake to avoid overheating the brake discs.
- DApply gentle pressure to the footbrake while simultaneously applying the parking brake to counteract extended wet stopping distances.
Answer
Apply the footbrake firmly and hold it down continuously without releasing pressure until the vehicle has stopped.
When performing an emergency stop in a vehicle equipped with ABS, the driver should apply immediate, firm, and continuous pressure to the footbrake pedal without releasing it. The ABS system automatically monitors wheel speed and rapidly pulses hydraulic brake pressure to each wheel just below the locking threshold. This ensures the maximum available tyre grip is used for deceleration while keeping the wheels rotating sufficiently to preserve steering control.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Correct emergency braking technique with an anti-lock braking system (ABS)
Estimated Time:1m 30s