Around one in three driving tests include an emergency stop. It’s the only part of the test that’s deliberately unexpected — the examiner won’t warn you until shortly before they give the signal. For many learners, that unpredictability is what makes it nerve-wracking.
But the emergency stop is one of the more straightforward parts of the test to prepare for. The technique is simple, the examiner’s expectations are clear, and modern cars with ABS make the braking itself less complicated than many learners expect.
This guide covers exactly what will happen on your test, the correct technique, and how to progress through the 5 DVSA skill levels to test-ready standard.
Will I Get an Emergency Stop on My Test?
Approximately 1 in 3 practical tests include an emergency stop. The DVSA doesn’t publish the exact figure, and it varies by test centre and route, but preparing for it as if it will definitely happen is the right approach.
If you do get one, here’s the sequence:
- The examiner will ask you to pull up on the left at a safe, quiet spot during your test
- They’ll explain: “Shortly, I’ll ask you to stop as if it’s an emergency. When I do this [raises hand], stop as quickly and safely as you can. I’ll make sure it’s safe before I give the signal”
- You’ll drive on, not knowing exactly when the signal is coming
- The examiner will choose a straight, quiet road, check their mirrors, and raise their hand
- You react immediately and stop
The examiner confirms it’s safe before they give the signal — there won’t be a vehicle behind you about to collide with you. But you still need to stop promptly. Hesitating as if you’re considering whether to stop is itself a fault.
What Examiners Look For
Reaction time — The examiner wants to see a prompt, immediate response to the signal. You don’t need racing-driver reflexes, but there should be no visible delay between the signal and your foot moving to the brake.
Braking technique — Brake firmly and progressively. In cars with ABS (which is virtually every car made after the mid-1990s), you should press the brake as hard as possible without pumping it. Push, hold, don’t release until stopped.
Control — The car should stay in a reasonably straight line. This means keeping both hands on the steering wheel throughout — no reaching for the handbrake, no releasing the wheel.
Clutch timing — Press the clutch pedal down just before the car stops to prevent stalling. In the heat of the moment, many learners forget this. The result is a stall — which isn’t a serious fault on its own but can add a minor.
Moving off safely — After stopping, you must check your mirrors before moving off again. Some learners are so relieved it’s over that they move off without looking. The test continues, so observations still matter.
The 5 DVSA Levels for Emergency Stop
Level 1: Introduced
You understand the concept and have had the signal explained. Your first attempts may involve hesitation between signal and braking, or releasing the brake before fully stopped. The instructor may need to intervene to prevent stalling.
Level 2: Helped
You react to the signal but your technique is inconsistent — perhaps braking progressively enough on some attempts but not others. You might clutch too early (coasting) or pump the brakes (with ABS, this is counter-productive). Your instructor coaches you during or immediately after each attempt.
Level 3: Prompted
You can perform a competent emergency stop most of the time, but you need reminders — perhaps a prompt before practice sessions to remember clutch timing, or a reminder to check mirrors before moving off. Your reaction time is good but might drop if you’re tense.
Level 4: Independent
Consistently controlled, prompt emergency stops without any instructor input. Correct clutch timing, straight line maintained, mirrors checked before moving off. Works reliably across different road conditions.
Level 5: Reflection
You understand why each element matters: why you keep both hands on the wheel (stability), why you don’t pump ABS brakes (it disengages the anti-lock system), why you check mirrors before moving off (the road hasn’t stopped while you have). You can adapt — braking on a slope, braking on a wet road, reassuring a nervous passenger afterwards. This is test-ready standard.
The Technique
Cars with ABS (all modern cars)
ABS — Anti-lock Braking System — prevents your wheels from locking under hard braking, meaning you keep steering control. Since ABS became standard equipment, the emergency stop technique has actually become simpler.
Step 1: React immediately When the examiner raises their hand, move your right foot from the accelerator to the brake without hesitation. There’s no need to check mirrors first — this is the one situation where you act first.
Step 2: Brake firmly Press the brake pedal hard. With ABS, you want maximum braking force — push the pedal as far as it will go. Don’t ease off.
Step 3: Keep pressing You may feel the brake pedal pulsing or vibrating under your foot. This is the ABS cycling. Keep your foot pressed down firmly. The natural instinct is to ease off because it feels strange. Don’t.
Step 4: Keep both hands on the wheel Maintain steering control throughout. Both hands on the wheel, steering straight.
Step 5: Clutch down just before stopping As the car slows to just above walking pace, press the clutch pedal down to disengage the engine. This prevents stalling. If you press it too early (say, at 20mph), you remove engine braking and extend your stopping distance.
Step 6: Stop, apply handbrake, select neutral Once stopped, apply the handbrake and select neutral. Take a breath.
Step 7: Observations before moving off Interior mirror, right mirror, right blind spot. Signal if needed. Move off when it’s safe.
What ABS Feels Like
Many learners have never experienced ABS activating. In a hard stop, you’ll feel:
- The brake pedal pulsing or juddering under your foot (the system cycling on and off multiple times per second)
- A slight grinding noise in some cars
- The car continuing to travel forward further than you might expect
None of this means something has gone wrong. Keep your foot pressed down and let the system do its job.
If Your Car Doesn’t Have ABS
Older vehicles (pre-1990s) without ABS require a different technique — progressive braking to the point of wheel lock, then easing off to just before lock. In practice, if you’re learning in a modern dual-controlled car, it will have ABS. But it’s worth asking your instructor.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
| Mistake | Why It Happens | The Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Hesitating before braking | Second-guessing — “is this real?” | Treat every signal as a real emergency. React first, think after. The examiner will not give the signal unless it’s safe |
| Pumping the brakes | Old habit from pre-ABS driving, or panic response to the pedal pulsing | In ABS cars, maintain constant firm pressure. The pulsing means it’s working — don’t fight it |
| Clutching too early | Habit of covering the clutch, or not thinking about clutch timing under pressure | Add a specific mental cue: “brake hard, keep braking, clutch down just before stop” |
| Releasing the steering wheel | Reaching for the handbrake prematurely, or hands slip during hard braking | Handbrake only after the car has stopped. Grip stays on the wheel until fully stopped |
| Forgetting mirror check before moving off | Relief that it’s over — attention drops | The test continues. Build the mirror check as a physical habit so it’s automatic |
| Not stopping in a straight line | One hand off the wheel, or panic steering | Both hands on the wheel, no steering input unless a genuine hazard demands it |
Practice Tips
Practise in an empty car park first. Have your instructor take you to an empty car park for your first attempts. No traffic, no pressure — just building the physical habit of the technique.
Vary the conditions. Once you’re consistently competent on dry roads, ask your instructor to practise on wet roads (where stopping distances are longer) and slight slopes.
Don’t tense up in anticipation. Many learners spend the entire test with a raised anxiety level waiting for the signal — which makes their overall driving worse. The examiner may not even give one. Drive normally and react when you need to.
Practise the clutch timing specifically. Ask your instructor for a drill: decelerate from 20mph as if stopping, pressing the clutch at the last moment. This isolates clutch timing without the full emergency braking element.
Do the observation check out loud. After stopping in practice, say “mirrors checked, safe to go” out loud. Building verbal confirmation makes it harder to forget under test conditions.
Stopping Distances: The Numbers
The Highway Code’s stopping distances are worth knowing, not just for the theory test but because they contextualise what an emergency stop actually involves:
| Speed | Thinking Distance | Braking Distance | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20mph | 6m | 6m | 12m |
| 30mph | 9m | 14m | 23m |
| 40mph | 12m | 24m | 36m |
| 50mph | 15m | 38m | 53m |
These figures are for dry roads. In wet conditions, braking distances double. On ice, they can be ten times longer.
Understanding these numbers connects the emergency stop to the broader skill of anticipation (Skill 10) — the best emergency stop is the one you never needed because you saw the hazard coming early enough to brake normally.
Track Your Progress
Our software records your DVSA level for the emergency stop after every lesson. Your instructor logs whether you’re at Level 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 — and you can see your progression at any time. When you reach Level 5, you know you’re ready.
Related Skills
- Anticipation and Planning (Skill 10) — the skill that reduces how often you need an emergency stop
- Use of Speed (Skill 11) — appropriate speed directly affects stopping distances
- All Manoeuvres (Skills 17–20) — see the other manoeuvres that may appear on your test