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- For the best braking score, you should always brake gently. To be able to do this, you’ll need to be aware of what’s ahead of you on the road. Always keep at a safe distance from the car in front of you: if you’re too close, you might not be able to stop in time if the car brakes suddenly and you won’t be able to see the road ahead clearly. As a general rule, you should leave a two second gap – that’s roughly the length of one car – from the vehicle in front of you. By doing this, you’ll be able to see hazards ahead and brake in time when needed. If it’s wet or icy, you should double the gap you leave, allowing you to brake safely even in harsh conditions.
- Remember: observation is key. Being able to see hazards ahead will allow you to slow down in enough time without having to harshly brake. You should aim to look as far ahead in the road as possible for potential hazards and always be ready to act. It’s also worth watching what cars ahead are doing – their brake lights might indicate there’s a hazard coming up that you’ll need to brake for.
- Take notice of anything that could be a hazard – this could be a car coming out of a junction, or someone about to pull out of a parking space. Even if you’ve got the right of way and you’ve seen them, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’ve seen you. Look for clues about what the driver is going to next. Are they indicating? What direction are their wheels pointing in? Where is the driver looking? Even if the hazard is only potential, you should still slow down and be ready to stop if you need to – it’s much better to be prepared for a hazard that doesn’t unfold than unprepared for one that does.
Keywords: DBS, behaviour, driving score, brake, hints, tips