Emergency stop
Brake hard, trust ABS, move on safely
The task that always comes
The emergency stop is part of every class B exam. The examiner usually announces it and then gives the command, often “Stop!”. You drive at about 30 km/h and brake immediately with full force – the car must stop in the shortest distance and stay in its lane. The examiner has checked the traffic behind you beforehand.
Technique in a manual car
- Beforehand: correct seat, hands at “quarter to three”, secure loose items.
- React to the command without hesitation – no glance at the mirror.
- Press brake and clutch simultaneously with full force.
- Keep the brake pressed even if the pedal vibrates.
- Keep the steering wheel straight, look ahead.
- Once stationary, keep braking, select neutral, only then release the clutch.
How ABS helps you
- ABS prevents the wheels from locking
- So the car remains steerable
- The pedal pulses and rattles – that's normal
- Don't ease off, don't pump the brake
- Brake assist detects emergency stops and boosts pressure
- On gravel or snow the braking distance can get longer
Why every tenth of a second counts
At 30 km/h: reaction distance (30/10) × 3 = 9 m, emergency braking distance (30/10)² ÷ 2 = 4.5 m – stopping distance 13.5 m. Move the slider and see how fast the stopping distance grows.
Educational rules of thumb, not a measurement of a vehicle.
Manual or automatic
Manual
- Brake and clutch at the same time
- Engine won't stall
- Select neutral once stationary
Automatic/EV
- Brake pedal only – with full force
- Left foot stays still
- Keep braking once stationary
Moving on – correctly
After braking you are standing in the middle of the lane. Before moving off: interior and door mirrors, shoulder check – cyclists could be next to you –, indicate if needed, then move off briskly. Driving on without an all-round check costs the credit the braking has just earned.
Too timid is the most common mistake
Many candidates brake only “hard” instead of as hard as possible. Press as if a child were in front of the car. Practise the emergency stop several times with your instructor – the rattling of the ABS should no longer surprise you in the exam.
Test your reaction
Measure your reaction time and stopping distance from 30 km/h – then move off again correctly.
This specific scenario is not implemented in the web edition yet. gfa_emergency_brake
During the emergency stop, the brake pedal pulses. What is the right thing to do?
- Briefly release the brake and press again.
- Keep pressing the brake with full force.
- Also pull the parking brake.
Check answer
Keep pressing the brake with full force.
The pulsing shows that ABS is working. Keep the brake pressed with full force – the car stays steerable and the braking distance short.