Driving Foundations: How to Do a Perfect Emergency Stop

In July to September 2023, the practical driving test pass rate in the UK was just 48.9% — meaning that over half of learners taking a test failed. When breaking down the most common reasons for failure, manoeuvres such as moving off and checking mirrors come out on top.

On top of the regular manoeuvres you may be asked to carry out when on your test, an emergency stop can be asked for too. In fact, on average, every 1 in 3 driving tests will feature an emergency stop.

In this blog, we’ll run you through how to perform the perfect emergency stop so that you don’t get caught out on your test. Read on for more.

What is an emergency stop?

An emergency stop refers to an essential driving manoeuvre in which you are required to bring your vehicle to a complete halt as quickly (and as safely) as you can. Usually, an emergency stop is performed by drivers if they encounter unexpected hazards on the road — such as a car pulling out in front of them or a pedestrian stepping out from in front of a bus or parked vehicle.

However, they have been a feature of modern driving tests for many years — and a feared one at that. Many learners dread the emergency stop because it can seem scary and dramatic to bring a moving vehicle to a sudden stop with passengers inside. However, it is important to remember how vital emergency stops are; they are designed to help prevent the likelihood of collisions on the roads and keep everyone safe.

When would you need to do an emergency stop?

Once you’ve passed

As mentioned briefly above, there are numerous reasons why you may need to perform an emergency stop outside of a driving test scenario. We’ve listed some example cases below to help give you a greater sense of the importance of this manoeuvre:

• The sudden appearance of pedestrians or animals on the road.
• Sudden, unexpected obstacles or debris in your driving path - such as a sign blowing into the road or falling branches during high winds.
• The abrupt stop of the vehicle in front of you.
• Any sudden changes in traffic signals (traffic lights turning red).
• Other drivers making unpredictable stops or manoeuvres such as pulling out of a junction.
• Avoiding a potential collision in busy traffic.
• Mechanical failure or sudden loss of vehicle control.

In a driving test

In a driving test you will need to do an emergency stop if a) you, like a regular driver, encounter an unexpected hazard that requires you to stop suddenly or b) your examiner tells you to.

How will the examiner signal an emergency stop?

A driving test examiner will be very clear about signalling to you to do an emergency stop. They will first raise their hand and then immediately give a verbal command to stop — loudly and clearly. As soon as they’ve given this command, you will need to proceed with the steps below to do as they say and bring your car to a halt.

Conducting an emergency stop

Ok, so the examiner has just signalled that you need to make an emergency stop — or, if you’ve already passed, you’ve suddenly seen a vehicle stop right in front of you. Now it is time to stop the car.

1. Check for hazards. Immediately look around your vehicle using your mirrors and assess whether there are any hazards.
2. Firmly press the brake pedal. Depress the brake pedal with confidence — not in a sudden stamp but rapidly and applying consistent pressure as the pedal goes down. If you are in an automatic car, congratulations, your work here is done (sort of).
3. Clutch control. If you are in a manual car, you will need to also press the clutch pedal once your speed begins to slow to avoid stalling.
4. Steer straight. Do not forget that your hands are on the steering wheel and need to keep your car in a front-facing, straight position while slowing.
5. If necessary, signal. If there are many other drivers around, and you will be stopping for a while, pop on your emergency hazard lights to signal to fellow road users. If you are on a test, you will be asked to drive on when it is safe to do so, so hazard lights are less necessary as there will be no ‘hazard’.

Helpful emergency stop reminders

Lastly, we understand that performing any manoeuvre with the word “emergency” in it is naturally going to be a cause for concern for learners. However, we’d encourage you to refocus on the safety reasons behind them. Emergency stops are, after all, designed to prevent emergencies from happening by ensuring you can control your vehicle quickly and in response to stimuli on the roads.

If that doesn’t help, here are some further tips:

• Stay calm. Remember that you are in no immediate danger and that, between you, you and the examiner have complete control of the car.
• Maintain a safe following distance. Whether on your test or not, emergency stops still require some distance to bring your vehicle to a halt. You can’t predict when you’ll need to suddenly stop, so cover yourself by never getting too close to the car in front while moving at speed.
• Don’t be afraid to push that pedal! Some people grind slowly to a halt when doing their first emergency stop, afraid to jerk to a stop. But, there has to be some urgency about it.
• Check for hazards quickly first. Lastly, just because it’s a fast-paced action, does not mean that regular safety precautions should go out the window.

Feel comfortable behind the wheel

If you’re feeling better about emergency stops, why not try getting to grips with some of the other manoeuvres in our other Driving Foundations series? Simply head over to the Kwik Fit blog for all the driving advice you need to see you safely on the road.

In the meantime, be sure to give yourself a good chance of driving success by keeping your car up to scratch with our range of vehicle servicing options.