Extra info - In a non-ABS vehicle

In a non-ABS vehicle

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Return to the relevant performance criterion

In a non-ABS vehicle, removes the foot from the brake when the wheels lock and then immediately reapplies the brake.

By locking the brakes in a non-ABS vehicle you have made a serious error. You have braked too hard for the conditions. When the wheels lock:

You have no steering control.

It takes further to stop.

You may seriously damage the tyres (one skid on a rough surface may ruin a brand new set of tyres).

Several cues can alert you that you have locked the brakes.

The steering does not respond - your view ahead remains the same even though you have applied steering.

The tyres may make a skidding sound.

You sense that the vehicle is not slowing as it should, (particularly on slippery surfaces).

Response

The counter-response to locking your brakes should be immediate.

When your main aim is to stop, do this:

Release the brake pressure - enough to get the wheels rolling again.

Progressively reapply pressure (if braking is still required).

If the brakes lock again when you reapply pressure, repeat steps 1 and 2.

Release the pressure, then reapply progressively

When your main aim is to steer, you can do this only if you are not braking firmly. Combining braking and steering is potentially dangerous in this situation. You might have made an irretrievable mistake.

Analyse the mistake

Later you must think hard about this mistake. You must review and adjust your driving (add link: ambulancedriving/standard/u3-e5.html) so that you can learn from the experience. In analysing this error, you will probably find that it was a consequence of not looking or thinking well ahead. You did not recognise a threat to someone's safety in sufficient time to have space to stop safely.

You must also ask yourself what you physically did to lock the brakes. If you had applied a progressive braking (add link to ambulancedriving/extra-info/ex-u1-e4-pce-03.html) technique, the brakes probably would not have locked.

You might have hit the brake pedal. Brakes tend to lock more easily if you hit the brake pedal rather than first set it up. The action of hitting the brake applies a massive braking force to the front wheels. However, this force occurs before the weight of the vehicle has had a chance to move forward and give the front tyres more grip.

You might have squeezed the brake too hard. In this case, you did not build up to the tyres' limits of adhesion with sufficient care. Alternatively, you lacked the skill to recognise the tyres' limits.

To learn from this experience you might think that you need to practise emergency braking. This is not correct. Crash situations occur too rarely for you to get good at this skill. Even if you did learn the skill in simulated conditions, it will probably make you a touch overconfident. Instead, practise the physical skill of progressive braking, emphasising the setting up stage. Do this especially if you drive non-ABS vehicles.

Return to the relevant performance criterion							In a non-ABS vehicle, removes the foot from the brake when the wheels lock and then immediately reapplies the brake.
Return to the relevant performance criterion
							By locking the brakes in a non-ABS vehicle you have made a serious error. You have braked too hard for the conditions. When the wheels lock: You have no steering control. It takes further to stop. You may seriously damage the tyres (one skid on a rough surface may ruin a brand new set of tyres). Several cues can alert you that you have locked the brakes. The steering does not respond - your view ahead remains the same even though you have applied steering. The tyres may make a skidding sound. You sense that the vehicle is not slowing as it should, (particularly on slippery surfaces). Response The counter-response to locking your brakes should be immediate. When your main aim is to stop, do this: Release the brake pressure - enough to get the wheels rolling again. Progressively reapply pressure (if braking is still required). If the brakes lock again when you reapply pressure, repeat steps 1 and 2. Release the pressure, then reapply progressively When your main aim is to steer, you can do this only if you are not braking firmly. Combining braking and steering is potentially dangerous in this situation. You might have made an irretrievable mistake. Analyse the mistake Later you must think hard about this mistake. You must review and adjust your driving (add link: ambulancedriving/standard/u3-e5.html) so that you can learn from the experience. In analysing this error, you will probably find that it was a consequence of not looking or thinking well ahead. You did not recognise a threat to someone's safety in sufficient time to have space to stop safely. You must also ask yourself what you physically did to lock the brakes. If you had applied a progressive braking (add link to ambulancedriving/extra-info/ex-u1-e4-pce-03.html) technique, the brakes probably would not have locked. You might have hit the brake pedal. Brakes tend to lock more easily if you hit the brake pedal rather than first set it up. The action of hitting the brake applies a massive braking force to the front wheels. However, this force occurs before the weight of the vehicle has had a chance to move forward and give the front tyres more grip. You might have squeezed the brake too hard. In this case, you did not build up to the tyres' limits of adhesion with sufficient care. Alternatively, you lacked the skill to recognise the tyres' limits. To learn from this experience you might think that you need to practise emergency braking. This is not correct. Crash situations occur too rarely for you to get good at this skill. Even if you did learn the skill in simulated conditions, it will probably make you a touch overconfident. Instead, practise the physical skill of progressive braking, emphasising the setting up stage. Do this especially if you drive non-ABS vehicles.