Learning to drive late in life. I’m good with awareness, changing gears, interactions, roundabouts, spatial awareness, yadda yadda - a lifetime of cyclist awareness.
I just can’t brake softly to save my life. It feels like I put the pedal half down, and nothing happens to the speed and then I do an inch more and suddenly the whole car locks up.
Is this normal? I just have to get used to finding a gentle breaking point somehow?
You just get used to the feel of the brake pedal, it’ll come with practice. It’s just the same as finding the bite point on the clutch, you eventually do it without even thinking about it.
Your foot and leg need to learn muscle memory which only comes with time, unfortunately. Alternatively, the brakes on the car you’re using are goosed.
Does this happen in every car or just one? If it’s just one car there might be an issue in the braking system. Every car I’ve driven has different brake feel but never anything like what you’re describing.
I’m pretty I’m the issue, since others use the car no problem
Pretend you are pressing your foot on a water balloon and you don’t want it to burst.
Will keep in mind, thanks
You need to note where is the spot when brakes start catching.
So later what you do js quickly press pedal to this point, then gently a bit more to actually engage the brake slowly.
Every vehicle is different, so I found that driving as many as you can will teach you much faster.
Also you can learn limo driver stop, which is gently releasing brakes a bit, just before vehicle stops.
Usually as you start slowing down, you release the brake pedal slowly. You don’t just chomp down on the brake and leave it there, you press it down, and then slowly lift up little by little as you approach a stop.
Ah. I’m supposed to back away from the brake once it starts to slow the car down. Good tip, thanks
Not really necessary. With a little bit of practice you learn to apply the right amount of braking power to come to a stop where you want to without adjusting mid-braking.
There’s a joke I heard young from sponge Bob about driving, but it stuck with me and helped. Dont press the pedals with your whole foot - press them with just your big toe.
Also check out a video on “the chauffer/limousine stop” for addition soft braking technique
That’s actually pretty helpful, thanks for this I’ll keep it in mind, and who knows maybe one day I can do a limousine stop
I found out about the “chauffeur stop” by accident and then I tried it with passengers on board and asked them if they like it. They all found the feeling weird and unnatural and seemed to feel more secure with a noticeable stop.
Are you wearing big boots (or steel toecaps) by any chance? A lighter shoe with a thinner sole might help to feel the pedals a bit better.
P.s. I don’t drive yet either, so my opinion may be useless, but I did a few lessons and this made quite a difference to pedal control.
So I wore flatter shoes today and did see a mild improvement, gotta say
Just like you kill someone softly, with a song
One time, one time?
Hmm… the way i’ve taught it is biomechanical in nature.
I assume you are pressing the brakes using your toes. You’ll want to switch to using the middle of your foot. Specifically, plant your ankle up as close as possible to the brake pedal, and keep it planted there. To brake, you pivot on the ankle. This should give you more control to apply gradual pressure on the pedal.
Start by getting into the habit of braking earlier. The rest will come naturally
Aim at a large crowd.
Less sarcastically as others have said. With lots of practice you get a feel for the breaking g system. Its more muscle memory then mathematical theory.
Many decades ago. When I learned to drive. It was common for the instructor to find an empty carpark and let you drive around slowly getting a feel for the car. As you avoided the resident dinosaurs.
My Dad took me to an empty car park at his work of a weekend. Many a happy afternoon slamming the brakes on in a pre-power steering MK2 ford fiesta
