Driving Technique and Vehicle Handling
The physics behind the technique
Handling questions test whether you understand grip, weight transfer and stopping distance. Braking distance grows with the square of speed: doubling speed roughly quadruples braking distance, so 50 km/h needs about four times the distance of 25 km/h. Total stopping distance adds reaction distance, which grows linearly with speed and with driver fatigue or distraction.
Braking and skids
With ABS, brake firmly and keep pressure on while steering around the hazard; do not pump the pedal. Without ABS, threshold braking avoids locking the wheels. If a skid starts, ease off the accelerator, steer where you want to go and avoid harsh braking. On a slippery surface, engine braking and gentle inputs are safer than sudden corrections.
Cornering, hills and visibility
Slow in, accelerate gently out. Brake before the bend, not in it, because braking mid-corner uses grip the tyres need for turning. On steep descents use a lower gear to exploit engine braking and protect the brakes from fading. In rain, fog or at night, reduce speed so you can stop within the distance you can see to be clear.
Overtaking
Overtake only when you have a clear view and enough space to return; never overtake at a pedestrian crossing, on a blind bend, or where a solid line prohibits it. Watch for the trap of "the vehicle ahead is slow" - that alone never justifies an unsafe overtake.
Worked example
At 50 km/h a driver reacts in about 0.5 s (roughly 7 m) and needs about 13 m to brake on dry asphalt, so the total is around 20 m. Wet asphalt can double the braking part, pushing the total toward 33 m - a strong argument for reducing speed in rain.
Rule of thumb
Choose a speed from which you can stop within the distance you can see to be clear.