During your driving test, your examiner may ask you to perform an emergency stop. There is around a 1-in-3 chance you will be asked to perform an emergency stop on your driving test, your driving instructor will have prepared you for this during your driving lessons in Milton Keynes or one of our many other locations.
What is an emergency stop?
An emergency stop is an additional manoeuvre the examiner may ask you to perform during your driving test, as well as one of the other mandatory test manoeuvres.
An emergency stop requires you to stop the car promptly and safely as if you were in a real-life emergency. If a real-life emergency were to occur while driving, such as a child running out in front of your car, you would need to be able to react quickly and carry out an emergency stop.
How to perform an emergency stop?
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No time for mirrors - checking mirrors increases your thinking time and overall braking distance. During an emergency stop, quick reaction time is crucial.
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Brake firmly and progressively - Apply pressure to the brake harder than normal but do not slam on the brake pedal. If you are braking firmly enough, you should feel a slight forward lurch in your seat.
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Put the clutch down just before you stop - To avoid stalling the car, you will need to put the clutch down just before you stop. Avoid putting the clutch down straight away as this is coasting which will increase your overall stopping distance.
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Keep both hands on the wheel - To maintain full control of the vehicle, you should keep both hands on the wheel. During a real-life emergency, you may try to change direction or brace yourself for impact.
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Handbrake on - Once the vehicle has stopped, apply the handbrake