The key to emergency braking is to
- stop as quickly as possible without locking the brakes ✓
- push on the brakes as hard as you can
- steer hard to the right while braking
- steer hard to the left while braking
Answer: A. stop as quickly as possible without locking the brakes
The key to emergency braking is to stop the vehicle as quickly as possible without locking the brakes.
Why this is the answer
The handbook says that when you need emergency braking, the goal is to stop as fast as you can while keeping the wheels from locking. It explains that locked wheels stop turning, so you lose steering control and the car may skid. That is why the technique it gives for cars without ABS is to press hard but not hard enough to lock the wheels, and for cars with ABS to press hard and hold without pumping. Steering control is the reason the rule is worded that way.
Why the other answers are wrong
- B. push on the brakes as hard as you can — Stomping on the pedal with no attention to the wheels can lock them in a car without ABS, and the handbook says to press hard but not hard enough to lock the wheels.
- C. steer hard to the right while braking — The handbook says to look and steer in the direction you want to go, not to wrench the wheel hard to the right while braking.
- D. steer hard to the left while braking — The handbook says to look and steer in the direction you want to go, not to wrench the wheel hard to the left while braking.
Remember it
Think of the goal as stopping fast and still being able to steer, so keep the wheels rolling rather than locked.