Dealing with emergencies on the road

ASHREF ISMAIL

THERE are times when something unexpected occurs that requires you to brake suddenly. The key to emergency braking is to stop the vehicle as quickly as possible without losing control of your vehicle.

If your vehicle has ABS brakes

Most vehicles are equipped with an anti-lock braking system (ABS). The ABS allows you to steer while the brakes are being applied. ABS applies brake pressure at each wheel, cycling from locked to slightly rolling. You will feel this as a vibration through the brake pedal.

With ABS you can brake as hard as you need without losing your ability to steer. To brake in an emergency, follow these steps:

Apply steady, firm pressure to the brake pedal.
Do not pump or release the brake pedal.
Lock and steer in the direction you want to go.
Be sure to check your vehicle’s owner’s manual for more information on emergency braking techniques.

If your vehicle does not have ABS brakes

In vehicles without ABS, braking hard can cause the wheels to stop rolling. The wheels are ‘locked’ when the brakes are applied and they stop rolling. This can cause you to lose steering control. If your wheels lock, ease off the brake pedal. Brake again but not as hard.

To brake in an emergency, follow these steps:

Press firmly on the brake pedal to the point just before the wheels lock. This is called threshold braking.
If the wheels lock, release the brake pedal slightly to regain steering control.
Press the brake pedal firmly again without locking the wheels.
Look and steer in the direction you want the front of the vehicle to go.

Loss of control

The road surface, the speed of your vehicle, turning and the condition of your tyres can contribute to a skid. Skidding means you have lost control of the vehicle. To regain control, do not touch the brake or the accelerator, and look and steer where you want the front of the vehicle to go.

Most skids are the result of driver error.

A skid can occur when you:

drive too quickly on poor road conditions like ice, snow, rain, mud, sand or gravel;
turn the steering wheel too sharply;
turn the steering wheel too much for the speed you are travelling;
brake too firmly;
accelerate too quickly.

Skid recovery

Drive in a manner that reduces the possibility of having your vehicle skid. Plan ahead so you will not have to suddenly brake or steer. Driving in a smooth and controlled manner will reduce the chance of a skid. If the road is not familiar to you or the conditions are not ideal, reduce your speed.

It is important that you keep your foot off the brake pedal if you start a skid. How you steer depends on the direction of the skid. Look and steer in the direction you want the front of the vehicle to go. Do not make large steering adjustments, point the tyres along the centre of your lane.

Braking skid (non-ABS)

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If your vehicle does not have anti-lock brakes, a braking skid could occur when you apply your brakes too firmly, causing the wheels to lock. Steering control will be lost.

If you ever experience this type of skid, do the following:

Take your foot off the brake pedal. When the vehicle’s wheels start to roll, steering control will return.
Look and steer in the direction you want the front of the vehicle to go.

If you need to apply the brakes again, use firm pressure but not hard enough to lock the wheels.

Power (acceleration) skid

A power skid occurs when you accelerate too quickly, causing the wheels to spin.

If you experience a power skid, do the following:

Take your foot off the accelerator pedal to allow the wheels to stop spinning.
Make any needed steering corrections. Look and steer in the direction you want the front of the vehicle to go.
Be careful not to over correct your steering or you may skid in the opposite direction.
Use gentle acceleration to continue moving forward.

Cornering skid

A cornering skid occurs when you are travelling too quickly when turning, causing the vehicle to slide sideways. Speed, tyre condition, road surface and the slope of the road can all play a part in this type of skid.

If you experience a cornering skid, do the following:

Take your foot off the accelerator pedal. Do not use your brakes.
Look and steer in the direction you want the front of the vehicle to go.

Off-road recovery

If you drive off the paved portion of the roadway, do the following:

Keep a firm grip on the steering wheel.
Do not try to steer the vehicle back onto the road immediately.
Take your foot off the accelerator pedal to reduce your speed.
Try to avoid braking. If you need to break, use gradual pressure on the brake pedal to keep control.
Check for traffic before attempting to steer the vehicle back onto the road.
With controlled speed, return to the road gradually and straighten your vehicle in the proper travel lane.

This article was first published in the June 2020 print edition of Muslim Views.

Ashref Ismail is an advanced driving training instructor.

Dealing with emergencies on the road

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