Emegency Stop!

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It is fairly unlikely that the examiner will ask you to do an emergency stop during your driving test. However, you do need to practice it just in case!

It isn`t difficult and should only take you a few attempts to perfect. After all, if you have been learning to drive in Cyprus, you have probably done a few real ones already during your lessons!

The examiner is always going to pre-warn you if he is going to ask you to do an emergency stop-he can`t just spring it on you as a surprise!

The examiner will choose a quiet road so that you do not cause a problem to other road users.

You are not going to have time to check your mirrors, indicate or change gear-remember it is supposed to be an emergency situation!

When he tells you to stop by slapping the dashboard with his clipboard or hand, you will be expected to stop the car as quickly as possible, without losing control, locking the wheels or skidding.

Use firm, progressive pressure on the brake, keeping just short of the point when the wheels will lock up. Follow up by pressing the clutch fully to the floor to avoid stalling the engine. At the relatively slow speed that you will be doing during this excercise, it is OK to press the clutch at the same time as the brake as long as the pressure on the brake is sufficient to stop the car free-wheeling and speeding up before the braking takes hold. What you must never do is press the clutch down before the brake, so beware of that.

Once the car has completely stopped you should apply the handbrake , select neutral and await the examiner`s instructions to proceed. I find many learners have difficulty at first in keeping both hands on the wheel until the car has completely stopped. The left hand is usually ready on the handbrake whilst the car is still moving!

Another common mistake is stopping the car too gently! Remember this is the one time you need to see the examiner pulled forward slightly in his seat as you come to a stop!

Make sure there are no unsecured objects in the car, mobile phones, bottles of water etc which will launch forward when you brake hard!

Remember to make the usual observation checks before moving off again, and signalling if need be.

That`s all there is to it!