If you correctly predict the development of the traffic situation, this gives you time to brake at a large distance from the dangerous section of the road, using the service brake.
When braking a car on a turn, the braking forces acting on the car are added to the centrifugal forces, which tend to push the car out of the trajectory of movement. The traction forces of the front outer wheel increase, and those of the other wheels decrease, as a result of which the car can skid heavily. Therefore, braking on turns should be avoided.
An effective means of reducing speed is service engine braking. The right foot is off the gas pedal, the traction force is small, the left foot does not press the clutch pedal, the clutch is engaged. In this case, the kinetic energy of the car's movement is spent on friction in the engine and in the transmission. The friction forces create braking moments on the leading right and left wheels. These moments are equal to each other and exclude wheel locking and skidding of the car. Therefore, this method of braking is safer and should be the main one in any road situations you predict. It prevents premature wear of tires, brakes, suspension, saves gasoline and makes the movement pleasant for you and your passengers. For this method of braking, smoothly release the pressure on the gas pedal.
When you suddenly release the gas pedal at high speed on roads with different coefficients of adhesion of the left and right wheels (for example, the right wheels on a wet dirt shoulder, on ice and on sand, and the left wheels on dry asphalt), the car may skid.
If you need to brake more intensively, then you need to switch to a lower gear. To do this, you should:
- press the clutch pedal sharply;
- put the gear shift lever into neutral;
- quickly release the clutch pedal;
- press the gas pedal slightly;
- then sharply press the clutch pedal;
- shift to a lower gear by pressing the gear shift lever sharply but lightly;
- release the clutch quickly but smoothly;
- keep your right foot on the gas pedal.
If the speed has not decreased enough, do the same thing, shifting to an even lower gear. Practice this braking method several times.
When driving on slippery and wet roads on descents, it is advisable to use service braking in a combined way. The right foot is transferred from the gas pedal to the brake pedal and smoothly presses it. The left foot does not press the clutch pedal, it is on. This method should also be the main one when predicting traffic situations, since it has the same advantages as engine braking. It is especially effective when driving in third, fourth and fifth gears and with a relatively small pressure on the brake pedal.
There are three more types of braking: sharp, intermittent and stepwise.
During sudden emergency braking, the car's center of gravity moves forward. The front wheels have more grip on the road than the rear wheels. Therefore, the rear wheels are more prone to skidding and drifting, and it becomes more difficult to control the car. Skidding on dry asphalt increases the braking distance by 25%, and on a slippery road by several times. Frequent use of emergency braking is a sign of poor road situation forecasting.
When braking sharply, quickly move your right foot to the brake pedal and press it hard, and after reducing the speed to the minimum value, sharply press the clutch pedal with your left foot, preventing the engine from stopping. With your right hand, move the gearshift lever to neutral and then, depending on the traffic situation, either engage the required gear, or after stopping the car, turn off the ignition, move the parking brake lever to the upper position, engage one of the lower gears and remove your left foot from the clutch pedal. Some "tens", which are mainly exported, are equipped with anti-lock braking systems (ABS), which weaken the effect of the brakes with a special device when the wheels are on the verge of locking. ABS does not cancel the laws of physics, the forces acting on the car, braking forces, weather conditions and road surface. Therefore, skidding of a car with ABS is also possible!
With intermittent braking, you maintain control of the car. Periodically releasing and pressing the brakes, as if pumping the brake pedal. If you feel the beginning of a skid or skidding, immediately release the brake pedal! Then press the pedal again and so on until the desired speed reduction or a complete stop.
With the step-by-step method of braking, you must first press the brake pedal smoothly, which will turn on the brake lights and give the drivers behind you the opportunity to take countermeasures. Gradually increase the force on the brake pedal. Repeatedly increase the pressure on the brake pedal with an increase exceeding the previous pressure. And so press and slightly release the brake pedal, increasing the force after each time. You must feel the beginning of the wheel locking, i.e. the beginning of skidding. This comes with experience.
Do not overuse the brake pedal. Press the brake pedal earlier before stopping. Always look in the rearview mirror when braking. Consider the road and weather conditions. Provide yourself with enough space and time to maneuver.
If you need to stop your car at a place you have specified, you must:
- look at the road in the rearview mirror;
- make sure there are no vehicles or pedestrians to give way to;
- turn on the left or right turn signal (some forget to do this);
- take your foot off the gas pedal and move it to the brake pedal;
- take it to the right or left accordingly;
- if necessary, press the brake pedal lightly and then more firmly;
- just before stopping, sharply press the clutch pedal all the way down;
- lift the parking brake lever up;
- turn off the ignition;
- move the gear shift lever to neutral and then to a lower gear;
- take your feet off the clutch and gas pedal;
- turn off the turn signal.