Koh's car tips !! BRAKING

[Kohinoor]

Hi all,

After reading the other day of someone's bad situation with a car (brake failure), I thought it might be useful to just unload a few tips I've learned over my time. Mainly because, it is important to know what to do, but it is equally important to know what NOT to do when bad things happen.


Before starting, one VERY IMPORTANT POINT is that most cars today have "power brakes, and power steering". If your car engine were to die, BOTH the steering and the brakes get REALLY HEAVY, and HARD to handle. Find a safe place to TRY THIS OUT for yourself - just so you KNOW what happens - but, main point is NEVER turn off your engine in an emergency until you are stopped !!


Stopping a car when you need to :-
When braking, some say to "pump the brakes" (you might've heard your Dad say this). It is not wrong, and is usually FAR better than just "jamming on the brake pedal", but it is not "the best" !! The best way is to "squeeze" the brake pedal, but easing up if/when you feel a vibration, or hear squealing, or if you can't steer !! A newer car with ABS (Automatic Braking System) does this FOR you.... Easing up on the brake pedal is as simple as "curling up your big toe" - really !! Try it !!

I've seen a car coming toward me, with his front wheels turned hard to the right, but he was still going straight ahead. THAT happens simply because the front wheels can't turn (brakes locked on hard) thus his attempts to "steer out of the way" wouldn't work. He SHOULD have eased up on the brake pedal, then the front wheels can rotate, and his car would "turn to the right".


One thing to "work on", is to experiment with doing this in your "day-to-day" driving, so that, when the chips are down, you do it automatically. Test yourself as you approach lights - start off by braking more heavily than usual, and notice how much quicker you COULD stop if you needed to. (Of course, do this only when there is little traffic around, SPECIALLY behind you).

Think on this one - if you are travelling at a speed of (say) 30Kmh, and it takes you 20 metres to stop, then it would take 80 metres to stop if you had been doing 60Kmh. If you are TRYING to stop, it is human nature to "JAM HARDER on the brakes as you get closer to what you want to avoid - FIGHT THAT URGE !!" You will stop far more quickly if you can remain "in control" and use correct braking procedures. As your speed gets lower, the required stopping distance gets markedly shorter !!


Try a few "emergency stops" on a suitable road (or shopping centre car park on a Sunday evening?) to see how you go !! Ensure you are STILL able to steer, even as you brake. Learning just THAT, will make you a FAR safer driver !! Find out just how QUICKLY you CAN stop if needed. It may surprise you. And learn to STEER as you STOP !! It works, if you haven't locked the brakes up.

Many of my tips were learned doing a one day Advanced Drivers' Course - it MAY be similar to Defensive Drivers (I don't know - I thought all DD did was to tell you not to follow too close, etc.) Whatever course you do, do one where they "stretch you" by getting you to drive YOUR car on skid pans and stuff like that. Great learning, and GREAT Insurance !!!

BTW, some of you might recall my comments (somewhere) about a TV ad that talks about speeding in a School Zone - and shows a so-called "expert driver" locking up the wheels as he brakes Yep, they SAID he was an expert - problem is, many might believe that is the right way to brake ....


So, what if my brakes don't work?

First off, try "pumping them" - hydraulic brakes can get air in the brake lines, and the act of pumping can overcome this. If this IS working, you would feel the brake pedal come "up", and the car will slow. If you have ever helped Dad to "bleed the brakes", you'll know what I mean. Of course, once the emergency is over, DO get them checked, 'cos something is not right !!

Second, (and another one to "learn" BEFORE you need to use it...) use the gears to slow you. When manual cars were the norm, this was "second nature". But an Automatic will do similarly.

Usually, an Auto will show
P - Park - DON'T throw your car into Park at any time, unless you are STOPPED.
R - Reverse - Self explanatory (like Park, only engage when stopped)
N- Neutral - i.e. Not in any gear
D - Drive - the "forward" gear (but actually 3, 4, or 5 gears in reality)
2 or S - Second gear - GREAT for braking (even if your brakes ARE working). We'll talk more of this lower down.....
1 or L - First gear - Most used for things like towing, where you DON'T want the Automatic gearbox to do its usual thing - for some reason, you want to ONLY be in First gear, so, you've selected it. (e.g. towing a boat off a boat ramp, or starting off uphill, towing another vehicle) It will also BRAKE you HEAVILY (but don't engage it above - say - 20Kmh )

Go, second gear !!! This gear can be your lifesaver !!. USUALLY, or often, you can "bump" the gearstick from D to 2 WITHOUT having to push the button on the gearstick !! This is GOLD when you are in a panic situation. GO ON, check your car ! If YOURS has this feature, then THIS can become your "emergency brake"

But hey, as before, start to USE it today, so you KNOW it is there - become familiar with using it, even in day-to-day driving, and get to KNOW what it does. One thing, moving into second at any time will have the car slow markedly (accompanied by a "bump" as the gears slow the car) - so, when learning about it, try it while doing 30 Kmh or less - till you get to KNOW what it does. And make sure you are on a deserted road too, or at least have no-one behind you.

Of course, like mine, you might have another button (called Power shift, or some other name) which could be your 3rd gear in a 4 speed Auto. Try that one out too - but, for emergencies, GO SECOND GEAR !!!


I hope that helps turn on a light or two, and, if anyone disagrees with ANYTHING, please DO say so - I'm not "the Oracle", and I'd appreciate being able to fix things if I have them wrong - so do speak up.

Koh

[Leestar]

Thanks for posting this. Hope you haven't had too many close calls!

The defensive driving course I did was a hardcore advanced driving course so not exactly the safe following distance stuff. I nicknamed it the 'offensive driving course' but then I'm from WA so it serves me well

I just wanted to comment that when watching a vehicle emergency brake it does appear that the wheels lock. I'm not defending the 'expert' in any way..just an observation that is all. If the brake pedal has been eased on firmly and steadily, then if the pedal is gently eased, the driver does have steering control. When getting L plates we learn to do this on gravel or wet sand so the idea is not to steer otherwise the risk is for the car to roll or lose control into oncoming traffic for example. Back then it wasn't so much about the brake pedal but the tempermental clutch stalling the *deluxe* read 'beat up' mazda 121 learner's drive car.

[Kohinoor]

Hi Leestar,

Thanks for your comment :-

I just wanted to comment that when watching a vehicle emergency brake it does appear that the wheels lock.
I'm not defending the 'expert' in any way..just an observation that is all. .

You're absolutely right - but the trick is not to LEAVE them that way, yeah? If this "expert" had eased up once he knew they'd locked, and they started turning again, I wouldn't be making so much fun of him - but no, he just "locked up" and skidded on down the road

If the brake pedal has been eased on firmly and steadily, then if the pedal is gently eased, the driver does have steering control.

Exactly right. I'm sure this knowledge has helped you at times, eh? (but not too many times ) Same as me.... We just never know WHEN that "next time" might come - so, better to be prepared....

When getting L plates we learn to do this on gravel or wet sand so the idea is not to steer otherwise the risk is for the car to roll or lose control into oncoming traffic for example.

Another very good point Leestar - thanks. Particularly at high speed, any steering should be done (as usual) in tiny amounts - like, just a few degrees to the right of the steering wheel will have you overtaking a car, or changing lanes, when at high speed. So "reefing on the steering wheel" CAN be quite dangerous as you said.

I was thinking of following up with a tip all about "steering" - I figure it's neck-and-neck with "braking" as to which is more important.

I might just do that on the weekend. Thanks again,

Koh

[mcpsych]

in most modern cars ( automatics) it doesnt matter if you throw the car into reverse at high speed because it has an electronic override which will simply select neutral and you will continue to roll forward without power. You will not damage the gearbox but you will have no engine control.

[mcpsych]

streering tips would be good for tourists- how to drive in sand ( fraser island) eh

[Kohinoor]

Hi mcpsych,

steering tips would be good for tourists- how to drive in sand ( fraser island) eh

I'll leave any of that kind to you - I wouldn't have a CLUE !!

Re the "throwing it into reverse" - still better not to, eh? It doesn't sound like it would slow you at all - far better to go the "second gear" way !!

And I'm not about to test your theory about Reverse either Have you tried it yourself?

Koh

[jlou]

I had a very frightening experience at the end of my first year of Uni, at night. My brakes failed (I was coming over the hill from St Lucia past Toowong, around the bend). I tapped the brakes to slow down - nothing. And again...nothing... It was really late at night (just been to the U2 concert and dropped a friend home) I was 19 years old and I remember it like it was yesterday. I was probably fortunate it was so late there were very few cars on the road - I was able to just let the car slow down until I eventually stopped outside the Regatta. Normally a short drive but felt like an eternity.

I was in an auto and I think I moved it down through the gears to slow it down and then eased on the handbrake. Whatever happened, I was fortunately able to stop safely.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Most of the newer cars have ABS. Is it still possible to actually lock your wheels when using ABS? I was under the impression it wasn't. I haven't been driving much in the last decade except when I go home and my big ole '91 caddie doesn't have ABS, but it does have some enormous brakes that are needed to stop that monstrosity of a land yacht.

[Kohinoor]

Hi SMS,

Most of the newer cars have ABS.

You're probably right !! But, at exactly what year ABS became "standard", I have no idea. And, I think I heard that ABS can be optionally "turned off". As always, it's all about knowing YOUR car, and what it can do.

Certainly, ABS, if operative, will keep most people safe in most braking situations!! Maybe I'm just being a "dinosaur" and thinking that there are many out there who drive older cars, yet really don't KNOW them, or their limitations.

You seem to know more than I re ABS - can you answer this? Are there situations where ABS can be "turned off" by the driver? And, in what kind of situations would they choose to do this? (As I drive an older car, I have NO knowledge of ABS - apart from knowing what it means, and how it works).

Further to that, what happens (with ABS operative) if a brake failure occurs? (think, fluid gone, or air in the lines, etc.) What can ABS do in that "failure" situation? Or, are we "back to basics"?

Koh

[lil_doll]

Hey Koh & SMS!

I have taken heed of the tips in this here thread... just thought I'd mention, as my incident was one of the catalyst for this thread... my car, in which the steering became locked, has ABS brakes... possibly in the earliest form they existed, but ABS nonetheless.

Cheerio!

xMissy

[mcpsych]

if you arent familiar with abs it can kill you on gravel roads. due to the loose surface the abs will simply keep releasing the brake to prevent skid and you will not stop until too late . i have tested this and a non abs car will stop sooner on gravel even with full brake lock and skidding

[Kohinoor]

Hey Lil,

my car, in which the steering became locked, has ABS brakes...

Would've been good, except they weren't working - normally ABS means Anti-lock Braking System - in your case it probably meant "Anti-lock Brakes Stuffed".

Anyway, Lil, I hope you've started "experimenting" with gears - how they work, and how they can help when the chips are down (brakes have failed).

It's good to get this kind of knowledge "locked in" BEFORE you need it !! Hence my initial post....

Koh