There are a lot of dangerous situations on the road, and it’s the split-second ways we react to them that can mean the difference between life and death. This especially applies to the use and application of our brakes. Follow the tips below to brake in the most effective and efficient manner to avoid a collision in emergency situations.
Brake softly: Put enough space between you and anything ahead of you so that you can always use the brake pedal lightly. This will reduce wear and tear, improve your gas mileage and keep your vehicle in the safest balance for the best control. Braking slower will also give other vehicle sufficient time to react.
When to brake hard: If you need to brake hard, you should only do this in emergency circumstance and don’t apply more brakes than needed. This is essential to maintaining the best control of your car.
Use your ABS: Antilock braking systems are your friend, but they only engage when you slam down on your brake pedal. It’s best to always have enough space so you don’t need to rely on ABS, but it’s also a good idea to practice getting the feel for how and when it engages so you can make use of this important safety feature.
If, in spite of your safe braking efforts, you are involved and injured in a vehicle crash, you might want to investigate whether you can pursue a financial claim for damages against the individual at fault for the auto collision. If successfully navigated, your personal injury suit could bring you money to pay for your medical care and other financial losses.
Source: drivingtips.org, “Your braking techniques are important for safe driving,” accessed Aug. 11, 2017