How to brake?

FrostedNipple · 2 Feb 2008 at 11:36

In my very short driving experience, I've already had two people pull out on me without looking, both times i have come within inches of going into the back of them! I put this to not having abs! Normally the last 5 or so meters of me braking hard my front wheels are locked! And i think this means your not braking as well as you could! Is there a certain skill to braking in a non abs car? If so, what is it?

Howard · 2 Feb 2008 at 11:39

Cadence braking

And not depressing the clutch until the absolute last minute

L0rdMike · 2 Feb 2008 at 11:43

Just drive into them and claim.

Muban · 2 Feb 2008 at 11:45

Even if people know the techniques in an emergency situation a lot of the time they forget and brake normally anyway. However, if you don't already know about them it's worth knowing about cadence and threshold braking clicky

FrostedNipple · 2 Feb 2008 at 11:45

L0rdMike said:
Just drive into them and claim.

if it was my car i wouldn't be too bothered, however its my mums, and if it gets written off, she can't get to work, and then i don't get fed!

i honestly think if i tried cadence braking, i would have crashed into the back/side of these people! Mainly as i have no experience in it! And that site does say, most people in a real emergency forget all techniques anyway and just BRAKE!

Clarkey · 2 Feb 2008 at 12:07

drive more safely then, can't say i've ever come within inches of hitting someone who pulled out on me, you should be paying a great deal of attention to things like cars at side junctions, expect them to pull out on you and you won't go far wrong.

As for braking just don't mash the pedal, and if you lock it up then release the pressure and re-apply to the point just before lockup. This should be pretty easy to gauge unless you have lead boots.

atpbx · 2 Feb 2008 at 12:07

You dont just stamp on the brakes.

But you only learn with experience as its based on your reactions and perception of how the situation is going to pan out.

I could tell you to go to an empty road and practice which you could do all day, but as soon as someone pulls out in front of you, you will stand on the brakes again in fear of whats going to happen.

Stellios · 2 Feb 2008 at 12:09

Pump the brake rather than just putting your foot hard down.

And watch junctions as you come up to them, then you can at least guess what people are going to do.

FrostedNipple · 2 Feb 2008 at 12:12

Hmm, just seems like i need a little more practice with braking! its a shame they don't teach you that before they let you out on the road by your self! I'll have to try and find a cheapish abs car, to make me feel safer

!

Duke · 2 Feb 2008 at 12:16

Clarkey said:
drive more safely then, can't say i've ever come within inches of hitting someone who pulled out on me, you should be paying a great deal of attention to things like cars at side junctions, expect them to pull out on you and you won't go far wrong.

Same here; OP: I think you need to be a bit more aware?

FrostedNipple · 2 Feb 2008 at 12:19

Duke said:
Same here; OP: I think you need to be a bit more aware?

Well the first time it happened, i had eye contact with the person and they still pulled out on me! 2nd time round, i probably should have been more aware! Still don't see why im getting blamed here though :mad:

robbiemc · 2 Feb 2008 at 12:22

Ah, just brake as last as you can and stuff 'em up the inside. Makes the daily commute a bit more interesting

DannyW · 2 Feb 2008 at 12:26

as already said don't dip the clutch till the last second and pump the brake pedal, sounds like your driving abit too fast or late reactions, you've also got anticipate
people pulling out ect, i learnt the hard way hope you dont too specically in your mums car. i'd hate to have a car without abs and tcs in this weather

saitrix · 2 Feb 2008 at 12:30

Use a dead industrial estate road when nothing is coming along it to practise your braking skills. You then hopefully remember to do it when you actually need it.

Dogbreath · 2 Feb 2008 at 12:35

DannyW said:
i'd hate to have a car without abs and tcs in this weather

Are your driving skills really so poor that you have to rely on electronic aids to stay on the road?

Asking how to use the brakes most effectively is fine, but blaming lack of driving skills and/or observation on having on ABS or traction control is not. Perhaps new drivers should not be taught in ABS equipped cars...

FrostedNipple · 2 Feb 2008 at 12:39

Dogbreath said:
Are your driving skills really so poor that you have to rely on electronic aids to stay on the road?

Asking how to use the brakes most effectively is fine, but blaming lack of driving skills and/or observation on having on ABS or traction control is not. Perhaps new drivers should not be taught in ABS equipped cars...

my thoughts exactly! When i learned how to do emergency stop in my instructors abs car, it was literally, foot to floor as hard as possible! Which tbh doesn't help 90% of new drivers, as we all get old crappy motors with no electronic aids at all! My car doesn't even have power steering!

DannyW · 2 Feb 2008 at 12:49

Dogbreath said:
Are your driving skills really so poor that you have to rely on electronic aids to stay on the road?

Asking how to use the brakes most effectively is fine, but blaming lack of driving skills and/or observation on having on ABS or traction control is not. Perhaps new drivers should not be taught in ABS equipped cars...

no i drive works vans up and down the country they have no abs, ive never had a problem in them. im simply saying its better with abs and you feel more confident with them

Muncher · 2 Feb 2008 at 12:58

Just don't brake so hard that you lock up, keep it at the threshold.

Cadence braking is only a technique to explain to numpties to not lock the wheels up if they don't have any perception of the effort required to keep the braking at the threshold of locking up but not go over it.

In reality I'd be very surprised if most normal drivers can actually cadence brake well in an emergency braking situation.

Muncher · 2 Feb 2008 at 12:59

FrostedNipple said:
My car doesn't even have power steering!

Neither does mine, you're better off without. The only benefit is to make parking easy for girls.

Zuma · 2 Feb 2008 at 14:44

cadence braking is to help you turn while braking heavily.
eg someone pulls out on you, you can't stop in time but you can still swerve around it.
it's what abs was designed to replace. abs allows you to turn, whilst braking as hard as you can.
you don't need to cadence brake if you just want to stop as quickly as possible.
if you feel the wheels lock up just ease off the brakes a little bit.
telling people to hammer on the brakes as fast as they can is probably counterproductive.