How To Perform an Emergency Stop in Your Driving Test

How To Perform an Emergency Stop in Your Driving Test

Around one in three driving tests will include an Emergency or Controlled Stop. It’s an important procedure to learn so that you can come to a safe stop in the road in an emergency situation. It’s what you would carry out if a child ran out into the road in front of you. In most cases, a good driver will never need to carry out an emergency stop, as their good observation and forward judgement will have flagged up any potential hazard, and they will have been able to take safe evasive action before an emergency stop was required.

At several times during your test the examiner will ask you to pull up on the left of the road to give you instructions or to ask you to carry out a manoeuvre. Whenever they do this you should select a safe and legal place to pull over, check your mirrors, signal and pull over to the side of the road. On one of these occasions they may explain that they will be asking you to carry out an emergency stop. They will tell you that on their signal you should immediately carry out a controlled stop, and that you will not need to check your mirrors or carry out observations as they will already have done this. They will ask you to move off when it is safe to do so, and to wait for their signal before you carry out the stop.

At this point you should carry out your observations, including your blind spot, and then move off. The emergency stop is usually carried out at about 30 miles per hour. DO NOT pre-empt or anticipate the examiner’s signal. They will be carrying out their own observations and waiting until it is safe (i.e. there is no other traffic in the vicinity) before they give you the signal to stop. If you carry out the stop at any other time it may not be safe to do so. The examiner’s signal is usually a clear “STOP” and their right hand raised, palm towards the windscreen. At this signal, you do not need to look in your mirrors, you should just carry out the emergency stop.

Apply the foot brake quickly. Make sure that you apply the foot brake before the clutch, as depressing the clutch first may make the car unstable and difficult to control. Keep a firm hold on the steering wheel, you will need to be able to maintain direction or correct any skidding as the weight of the car is thrown forwards. If you feel the brakes beginning to lock or the car going into a skid, ease the pressure from the brake a little, and then reapply. Just before the car comes to a stop, depress the clutch fully. Once you have stopped, secure the car with the handbrake and put the gear stick in neutral. Remember to carry out all your observations before you move off again, including your blind spots. You will then carry on with your test.

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