Emergency Stop

The classic emergency stop, imagine a small child has run in to the road... why are you accelerating? It's not a game of chicken, stooooooop! This is not how yours will go; I am sure.

There is not a great deal to the emergency stop, but it is worth a few practice attempts and it is worth trying it on a damp or wet road to see how your car performs.

Step 1 - Open the owners manual

• What? You may know already, but if not check if you have anti-lock brakes (ABS).

• Why? If you do, it will stop your wheels locking if you go a bit heavy with the braking. If you don't then you definitely want to try an emergency stop in the wet.

Step 2 - Find a quiet road

• You don't want someone behind you when you start stamping on the brakes for no reason, you are inviting an accident and an insurance claim.

Step 3 - Your driving coach signals to stop

• Get up to speed, typically this would be done at 30 mph, you shouldn't be gunning it at 60 along a dual carriage way.

• You will need to have changed up into at least 3rd in a manual car. You need to pretend you aren't anticipating what will happen next.

• Your driving partner will then signal when to perform the stop. They should be checking that no one has appeared behind you and that it is safe to stop quickly.

Step 4 - No time for mirrors, brake very firmly

• The brakes should be applied very firmly, if you and your driving coach are not leaning forwards into your seatbelts then go again.

• You shouldn't be checking your mirrors before applying the brakes.

• If you don't have ABS and the wheels start to lock up, release the pressure slightly until the wheels stop sliding and then reapply. This is much more likely to happen in the wet so definitely give this a try in the wet, even if you have ABS.

• Make sure you keep the car in a straight line.

• Note - Don't forget the clutch as the car comes to a stop.

Step 5 - Stopped

• Wooo what a rush, new pair of pants please. Hopefully it wasn't that bad.

• The key thing now is to reset. You will be in the wrong gear, you may be slightly flustered if the wheels locked up. Hopefully you remembered the clutch and didn't stall it.

• Use the handbrake if you are on a slight incline so you don't roll away.

• You will then move away when it is safe to do so.

• Remember all the usual rules apply, make sure you are in first gear, check your mirrors, off with the handbrake and you can carry on.

Top tip - It seems easy and let's be honest there is not much to it, which is why it is easy to forget about it. Practice once every couple of weeks and at least once in the week leading up to your test.