You need to brake hard in an emergency and your vehicle has anti-lock brakes (ABS). What does the manual tell you to do with the pedal?
-
A.
Pull the parking brake instead of using the pedal.
-
B.
Pump the brake pedal repeatedly.
-
C.
Tap the brake lightly, then release.
-
D.
Maintain firm and continuous pressure on the brake. Correct
The answer is "Maintain firm and continuous pressure on the brake."
The manual says ABS-equipped vehicles need firm continuous pressure on the pedal; the system pulses the brakes for you and stops the wheels from locking. Pumping the pedal defeats the ABS and lengthens the stop. Mechanical noise or slight pulsation through the pedal during ABS operation is normal. Drivers who reach for B are falling back on the pre-ABS emergency-stop technique many older drivers were taught.
The traps in the wrong answers
A. Pull the parking brake instead of using the pedal.
The parking brake is the last-ditch step in total brake failure, not the normal ABS response. This answer reaches for the brake-failure procedure when the service brakes are still working fine.
B. Pump the brake pedal repeatedly.
Pumping is the non-ABS technique; on ABS it defeats the system and extends stopping distance. This answer applies the pre-ABS emergency-stop habit that many older drivers were taught.
C. Tap the brake lightly, then release.
Light taps do not slow the vehicle in an emergency; the manual calls for firm pressure. This answer reads the 'do not pump' rule as 'do not press hard,' missing the difference.
This question tests your knowledge of Emergencies in Pennsylvania. Source: Pennsylvania Driver Manual, "If You Have to Brake Suddenly," p.61..
Related Pennsylvania questions
- You feel your vehicle begin to hydroplane on a wet road. What does the manual tell you to do with the gas pedal? →
- The rear of your vehicle starts to skid to the right on an icy road. Which way does the manual tell you to steer? →
- A tire on your vehicle blows out at highway speed. What does the manual say about the brakes? →
- How does the manual say a front tire blowout feels from the driver's seat? →
- Your front tire drops off the pavement onto a lower shoulder. What does the manual tell you to avoid? →
You just took one Pennsylvania question apart. The book does it for the whole test.
The Pennsylvania book unlocks a free companion: an adaptive study plan, progress synced across your devices, a denser laminate cheat sheet, and a test-day walkthrough. Verify your copy once, usually in seconds; there's nothing extra to buy.
$18.99 paperback, free companion included.