Using your brake is one of the first tasks you learn how to do when you begin getting behind the wheel. It may be confusing to remember which pedal is the brake pedal at first, but once you get the hang of it, it becomes second nature and you never have to think about which foot or side to use for breaking ever again. Your body and your brain just do it naturally for you when you decide you need to brake.
Learning how to brake is not difficult. You press the pedal. But there are ways and methods of pressing brake pedals that can improve your driving experience and safety. We have all been in a car with someone who jerkily presses the brake when they need to stop. We jolt forward each time they press down and it makes for an extremely unpleasant driving experience. Those jerky pedal pressers may not realize it, but there are ways to press your brakes smoothly and keep the experience of your passengers safe and pleasant. Pressing down the brakes quickly, sharply, or multiple times in a row is what produces this jolting experience. Here are a few things to keep in mind to prevent this bad break experience:
Brake early. Give yourself plenty of time to slowly press down the brake. When you are driving, pressing your brake at a time that feels too early is actually on time. If you leave your brake press for the last minute, you will have to press down hard and fast and that will result in that jolting experience. It could also not give you enough time to stop before you hit the driver or object in front of you.
Make sure you know what you are braking for. Scan the area so that you can see exactly where you need to brake. It can be hard to decide when to brake if you do not know what you are braking for. Being able to visualize what you are stopping for can help you brake more smoothly and on time.
Brake in one fluid movement. The brake is not an on/off switch. You do not press it one quick time or quick, multiple times. It needs to be one, slow movement to be properly executed. Pressing once and quickly will not result in enough braking to fully top and pressing multiple times over and over again will jolt every passenger forward in their seats. Press the brake slowly until you start feeling resistance and the car comes to a halt.
Just to be safe, hover your foot over the brake when you spot potential hazards. This helps make your recovery time faster if you ever need to stop quickly. Your foot is already there, so you do not have to move it over and press. This also helps prepare you because its means your foot is temporarily off the accelerator, allowing you to slow down your speed anyway.
Braking is a simple task, but it is probably the most important safety measure in your car. It’s a simple process, but there are ways to do it to improve your safety and driving experience. Press it smoothly, slowly, and you will be just fine.
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