A 3-minute lesson from the Oklahoma course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Smooth braking keeps you in control. In an emergency (a blowout, dropping off the pavement, a loose road surface) the right braking technique and gentle steering matter more than quick reactions. These instructions are for standard (non-ABS) brakes.
With a standard transmission you can use the gearshift to slow down approaching a stop sign or signal: first flash your brake lights to signal the car behind you, then shift down to a lower gear.
If you run off the pavement: hold the steering wheel firmly, brake lightly and slow down until you can safely return. Check traffic in both directions and, when it's safe, steer carefully back into your lane.
Braking for stopping safely and avoiding skids is different from standard brakes. If your car has ABS, read the owner's manual for maximum-braking instructions.
Your front tire blows out at highway speed and the car pulls to one side. Hold the wheel firmly, lift your foot off the gas, and brake cautiously and gently. Slamming the brakes or jerking the wheel could make you lose control.
Check your understanding
Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
What happens if you press the brake pedal harder than the point of maximum braking?
The vehicle stops faster
The wheels lock and the vehicle skids
The ABS always engages
Nothing changes
Answer: The wheels lock and the vehicle skids
Too much brake pressure locks the wheels and causes a skid.