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Washington driving lesson · Handling Your Vehicle

Braking pressure, ABS, and accelerating

A 2-minute lesson from the Washington course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
2 minutes
Course unit
Handling Your Vehicle
Checkpoint questions
5
Source pages
58, 59, 184

Good vehicle handling means managing speed and space smoothly at all times. Most of your stops should be gentle, and knowing what antilock brakes do (and don't do) keeps you from panicking in an emergency stop.

The four levels of braking pressure:

  • Light
  • Medium
  • Firm
  • Emergency
Handbook p. 58 ↗

Know the rule

Ideally you'll only need light and medium braking, but you can always use firm or emergency braking if you need to.

Handbook p. 59 ↗

Know the rule

Unnecessary firm or emergency braking can surprise the people behind you, who expect a smooth stop.

Handbook p. 59 ↗

Know the rule

Brake and accelerate as if there's a cup of water in your lap you don't want to spill.

Handbook p. 59 ↗

Antilock Braking System (ABS)

A vehicle safety feature that helps you keep control and stop safely by keeping the wheels from locking up during hard braking.

Handbook p. 184 ↗

Know the rule

ABS lets you steer during emergency braking. It does not shorten your stopping distance. When it engages, you may feel the vehicle shake a bit.

Handbook p. 59 ↗

Know the rule

Practice firm or emergency braking in a large, open, paved space: brake hard and feel the ABS keep the wheels from locking.

Handbook p. 59 ↗

Know the rule

In stop-and-go traffic, releasing the brake pedal may be all the acceleration you need. Other times you'll need to accelerate quickly to avoid a hazard.

Handbook p. 59 ↗

Put it into practice

A deer jumps out and you stomp the brake. The pedal buzzes and the car shakes. That's ABS working: it keeps the wheels from locking so you can still steer around the deer. Your stopping distance isn't any shorter, though.

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.

How many levels of braking pressure does the handbook describe?
  1. Two
  2. Three
  3. Five
  4. Four

Answer: Four

There are four levels of braking: light, medium, firm, and emergency.

Handbook p. 58 ↗
What does an Antilock Braking System (ABS) actually do for you in an emergency stop?
  1. Prevents brake fade on long hills
  2. Automatically applies the parking brake
  3. Lets you keep steering control while braking hard
  4. Shortens your stopping distance

Answer: Lets you keep steering control while braking hard

ABS doesn't shorten stopping distance, but it lets you keep steering control during hard braking.

Handbook p. 59 ↗
Ideally, most of your everyday driving should only require light and medium braking.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: True

Ideally you'll only need light and medium braking; firm and emergency braking are for when needed.

Handbook p. 59 ↗
An Antilock Braking System shortens your stopping distance compared to a vehicle without ABS.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: False

ABS does not shorten stopping distance; its advantage is letting you keep steering control.

Handbook p. 59 ↗
You brake hard and feel the vehicle shake a bit as the ABS engages. What does that mean?
  1. Your brakes are failing
  2. You should release the brake right away
  3. Your tires are underinflated
  4. It's normal; ABS is keeping the wheels from locking

Answer: It's normal; ABS is keeping the wheels from locking

When ABS engages, you can feel the vehicle shake a bit as it keeps the wheels from locking up.

Handbook p. 59 ↗
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