Check Your Brake Pedal

Have you checked the brake pedal before the road test?
Find out what a good working brake pedal feels like.

BRAKING: Bring the vehicle to a stop gently. Start braking well before your stopping position to avoid "jerky" stops. Make sure you stop your vehicle in the proper position of the lane.
  
Caution:  To every new driver.  If you did not think being knowledgeable and aware of how important this issue is and how it may affect you on the road test, think again!

The massive recalls by Toyota Motor Corp., (the world's largest automaker) have gotten the attention of the White House officials. "Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said at an appearance in Washington Toyota President Akio Toyoda to emphasize how seriously the Obama administration is taking investigations into reports of uncontrolled acceleration in Toyota vehicles.”  Therefore, it should also concern the new driver who is preparing to take the road test anytime soon.

I remember my friend Monique’s urgent phone call.  She wanted to know if I can lend my car to her friend Babaluka (Ms. B who she helped prepare for the road test several weeks prior and felt she was ready to take the road test.  Before Monique accepted to assist Ms. B, she had attempted the road test several times over the years and was unsuccessful. However, this last time around, we found out something very strange had happened on the day Ms. B drove her family car to take the road test again.  Monique noticed how tense and nervous Ms. B was on that Monday morning.  At one point, it got so bad Monique decided to drive the rest of the way.  The moment Monique took over the steering wheel and pressed on the brake pedal, it went all the way down to the floor of the car, but the car did not stop, it just kept going!

We found out later that a certain family member loosened the brake pedal screws to prevent Ms. B from passing the road test that day.  Oh, no you said, and that’s exactly what I said when I heard the story. The family member who did that did not want Ms. B to get her driver’s license because it will make her independent.  Obviously, Ms. B did not have anyone in her life at the time to explain or teach her the importance of checking the condition of the brake pedal to make sure it was in good and working condition before the road test.

As result of every thing that had happened and I was no where near the road test site, Ms. B did not get a chance to take the road test. She rescheduled the road test again and hoped to find another car that she can practice her driving skills before the next road test.

How about you, perhaps, you too have a similar story.  Like Ms. B, do you need help with how to identify problems with the car brake pedal before the road test? Visit www.PaulinaAParker.com for more information.