Harsh braking can have a big impact on your driving feedback. It suggests you're not anticipating hazards and often happens when you follow the car in front too closely. Smooth braking is the sign of an expert driver.
Your goal: avoid sudden, sharp pressure on the brake pedal.
Easy ways to improve your braking
Look further ahead: don't just focus on the car in front of you. Scan the road far ahead to spot potential hazards like traffic lights, crossings, or traffic jams. The earlier you see them, the more time you have to slow down smoothly.
Keep your distance: the further you are from the car in front, the more time you have to react to anything they do. Use the two-second rule (watch the car in front pass a lamp post and count two second before you pass it) as a minimum guide. In bad weather, leave even more space.
Prepare for corners: the best drivers don't brake in a corner; they slow down gradually before it. Braking suddenly can be dangerous because you’re fighting the car’s natural forward momentum. Once you're through the bend, you can gently accelerate out.
Use engine braking (if you’re driving a manual): a bit of advanced driving is using the engine to lose most of the speed, rather than the brake pedal. Switch to a lower gear and then brake gently to lose the rest of the speed as you come to a stop.
Think like a chauffeur: every time you approach a junction or need to stop, aim to slow down so smoothly that a passenger wouldn’t even notice.