United Kingdom DSA: Braking and emergency braking

[p.dath]

Just out of interest, because it has been bought up several times, I emailed the DSA in the United Kingdom about their procedure for braking and emergency braking.

I got the below response from Susan Gil, Susan.Gil@dsa.gsi.gov.uk.

Dear Mr D’Ath,

The recommended system for carrying out both a controlled, and emergency, stop as outlined in the DSA publication is based on the front brake being the most effective. This procedure is widely recognised by the motorcycle training industry as an effective system of carrying out a controlled stop in both normal, and when enhanced, emergency situations.

This is outlined in our publication as follows:

• Shut the throttle, to afford engine braking
• Use the front brake just before the rear, the front being the most effective brake, as with the front of the machine dipping under engine braking weight on the rear wheel is reduced
• Brake progressively, increase the pressure steadily on both brakes
• Apply the right amount of braking effort to each wheel. This will depend on the road surface and weather conditions.

ADDITIONALLY WHEN IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION:

• Keep your motorcycle upright
• Apply maximum effort without locking the wheels achieved by progressively increasing braking pressure.
• Pull in the clutch just before you stop, to afford maximum engine braking (In some situations where ABS is fitted it is advocated that you operate the clutch as soon as the brakes are applied).

That said, from a testing/assessment perspective the Driving Standards Agency views each manoeuvre on it merits. Therefore providing an emergency stop is carried out safely, under full control and in as short a distance as conditions will allow, it would be deemed to have been successful regardless as to which system had been employed by the rider.


Yours sincerely,


Steve Murray
Supervising Examiner,
Standards & Regulation.
Tel : 0115 9366371

[p.dath]

And I have emailed back to her asking, for my own curiosity, if this approach was arrived at after a study into braking and emergency braking, or was it the result of the personal opinion of an expert panel.

I'm hoping it was the result of a study, in which case I'll ask for it. Be good to have some more factual data to add to the fire, I mean, debate.

[slofox]

And I have emailed back to her asking, for my own curiosity, if she had a picture of herself for me...

Fixed that typo for ya...

[T.W.R]

Just out of interest, because it has been bought up several times, I emailed the DSA in the United Kingdom about their procedure for braking and emergency braking.

I got the below response from Susan Gil, Susan.Gil@dsa.gsi.gov.uk.

The recommended system for carrying out both a controlled, and emergency, stop as outlined in the DSA publication is based on the front brake being the most effective. This procedure is widely recognised by the motorcycle training industry as an effective system of carrying out a controlled stop in both normal, and when enhanced, emergency situations.

This is outlined in our publication as follows:

• Shut the throttle, to afford engine braking
• Use the front brake just before the rear, the front being the most effective brake, as with the front of the machine dipping under engine braking weight on the rear wheel is reduced
• Brake progressively, increase the pressure steadily on both brakes
• Apply the right amount of braking effort to each wheel. This will depend on the road surface and weather conditions.

ADDITIONALLY WHEN IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION:

• Keep your motorcycle upright
• Apply maximum effort without locking the wheels achieved by progressively increasing braking pressure.
• Pull in the clutch just before you stop, to afford maximum engine braking (In some situations where ABS is fitted it is advocated that you operate the clutch as soon as the brakes are applied).



Wonder if BlackBird will read this

[MotoKuzzi]

I would'a thought getting the clutch in asap afforded quicker stopping, otherwise at some point you're trying to brake the drive train momentum to a stop as well.

[Urano]

"keep the bike upright" is fantastic... ask her a demonstration

uhmm... what's the difference between this topic and the other "emergency brakin"? maybe i've posted wrong there...

[p.dath]

I got a further response back from he DSA on this. They didn't do any studies. They arrived at their emergency braking recommendations via consultation.