Stopping a vehicle is easy, but learning to stop smoothly is actually one of the most difficult skills to pick up at the beginning. A lot of times, jerky stops are not due to poor decisions by the driver but because of how quickly the foot pressure changes on the brake pedal. Braking is not just a single action; it is a gradual slowing down. The pressure on the brake pedal should begin slowly and then gradually increase as the vehicle slows. This will ensure a controlled stop without any last minute jerking of the vehicle.
Start by practicing from very low speed. Slowly roll the vehicle forward and pick a point on the ground ahead as the intended stopping point. Braking should begin a little before you reach your point. Keep your foot pressure steady and avoid sudden increases in pressure. Ease your foot pressure off ever so slightly just before the car comes to rest. This will take away that sudden “dip” feeling at the end of the stopping process.
One common mistake that is made is not braking early enough and then over correcting. As a result, stopping will be jerky, uncomfortable and will make you tense up your muscles from your hands down to your feet. One way to avoid this is to shift your thinking. If you have already spotted your stopping point, start to decrease the speed of the vehicle before you reach it. Another issue is when the driver puts his foot on the brake pedal but cannot apply consistent pressure and just keeps hovering. Try keeping your foot steady on the pedal instead and apply steady pressure.
If your braking feels jerky and not smooth, then slow down the process. Decrease the speed of the vehicle before you start braking and start to increase the length of braking distance. Doing the same movement a few times over again is the best way. Gently increase speed of the vehicle and apply smooth braking until you come to a halt. After doing this several times you’ll be familiar with the distance you should brake from and at what speed your vehicle can come to a stop.
All of these exercises take about fifteen minutes. Do the short speed braking for a few minutes, increase your distance and then change the speed of the vehicle slightly while you’re doing this, but do maintain the smooth braking process you’ve practiced. Don’t let anything distract you during this session. Keep focus on your foot pressing the brake. After you start improving the smooth braking, you will see it will no longer be as hard to stop.