Braking Systems

Question 1 of 52

What’s the most powerful brake on a bus?

Secondary brake
Anti-lock braking system
Endurance brake (retarder)
Service brake

Question 2 of 52

What should you do when making a short stop, facing uphill?

Hold the vehicle on the clutch
Hold the vehicle on the footbrake
Select neutral and apply the parking brake
Apply the parking brake after stopping

Question 3 of 52

You’re about to move off in a vehicle that has automatic transmission. What must you do before you select ‘D’ (drive)?

Put your foot on the footbrake
Signal to move off
Alter your seat position
Adjust your mirrors

Question 4 of 52

What’s an advantage of progressive braking?

Improved passenger safety and comfort
Increased air-brake pressure
Avoidance of 'brake fade'
Longer rest periods

Question 5 of 52

When should an anti-lock braking system (ABS) warning light turn off?

When the brakes are used for the first time
When the ABS comes into operation
When road speed is 6 mph (10 km/h) or more
When the secondary braking system is used

Question 6 of 52

You’re about to start a journey in very frosty weather. What’s the likely cause of low air-brake pressure?

Engine temperature too low
Weak engine anti-freeze mixture
Brake pedal needs adjustment
Frozen moisture in the storage tanks

Question 7 of 52

How will anti-lock brakes improve your vehicle’s safety?

They allow you to follow other vehicles more closely
They help you keep steering control while braking heavily
They let you drive faster on wet roads
They enable you to brake later than normal

Question 8 of 52

What could prevent air pressure from building up in an air-brake system in frosty weather?

Moisture in the air may form bubbles in the brake fluid
The air will contract, reducing the pressure
The dampness may cause valves to rust
Moisture drawn in with the air may freeze and cause a blockage

Question 9 of 52

What should you do if the brake air-pressure warning light comes on while you’re driving?

Stop and get help without delay
Report the fault when you return to your depot
Build up the pressure by accelerating
Drain the air tanks and continue normally

Question 10 of 52

You’ve just started the engine. What must you do if the brake air-pressure warning light is showing?

Report it as a fault
Keep the parking brake on
Switch your engine off
Engage the clutch

Question 11 of 52

Your vehicle is fitted with an anti-lock braking system. What’s it designed to allow you to do?

Drive at faster speeds
Brake much later than normal
Apply the brakes more quickly
Stop safely in an emergency

Question 12 of 52

Your vehicle is fitted with an anti-lock braking system. When should you check that it’s working properly?

Before each service
At the start of each working day
At the start of each working week
Before every journey

Question 13 of 52

What will ‘pumping’ the brake pedal in a vehicle fitted with anti-lock brakes cause?

Increased effectiveness
Reduced effectiveness
Reduced brake wear
Increased brake wear

Question 14 of 52

You’re driving a vehicle fitted with anti-lock brakes. What should you do when braking in an emergency

‘Pump’ the brake pedal harshly
Apply minimum force to the brake pedal
Use the exhaust brake (retarder) before the footbrake
Apply firm, continuous pressure to the brake pedal

Question 15 of 52

What’s ‘brake fade’?

Reduction of air pressure
Smooth progressive braking
Reduction of braking effectiveness
Low hydraulic brake fluid level

Question 16 of 52

‘Brake fade’ is a loss of effectiveness of the brakes when they overheat. When would ‘brake fade’ be most likely to happen?

On a long journey
On a downhill gradient
On the approach to hazards
On a long uphill gradient

Question 17 of 52

What should you do when driving a large vehicle down a steep hill?

Partly apply the parking brake
Select the vehicle’s highest gear
Use the endurance brake
Put the gear lever into neutral

Question 18 of 52

What should anti-lock brakes let you do when you have to stop in an emergency?

Brake more gently
Brake much later
Maintain steering control
Stop over a longer distance

Question 19 of 52

Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes. How does this affect you when you’re braking normally?

There’s no need to alter the way you brake
You’ll be able to brake much later
You’ll need to brake more firmly
There’s no need to brake so early

Question 20 of 52

Where would you see an escape lane?

Outside a fire station
Alongside a bus lane
Before a motorway exit
Down a steep hill

Question 21 of 52

When would you use an escape lane?

When motorways merge
When carrying a dangerous cargo
When your brakes have failed
When emergency repairs are needed

Question 22 of 52

When can an endurance brake (retarder) be especially useful?

While driving down long hills
When driving on steep cambers
As a way to reduce gear changes
To improve fuel consumption

Question 23 of 52

You’re driving down a long hill. What should you use to prevent the brakes from overheating?

The anti-lock braking system
The footbrake
The secondary brake
The endurance brake (retarder)

Question 24 of 52

What system is used to control a vehicle’s speed without using the footbrake?

A secondary brake
An endurance brake (retarder)
A differential lock
An emergency air system

Question 25 of 52

When should an endurance brake (retarder) be used?

On motorways only
When braking quickly
When you stop or park
On long downhill slopes

Question 26 of 52

Your vehicle is fully loaded. Where should you be braking when dealing with bends?

As close to the bend as possible
As you start to turn the wheel
When halfway around the bend
When driving in a straight line

Question 27 of 52

A lorry is overtaking you on a two-lane motorway. What should you do if it doesn’t have the speed to get past?

Continue at the same speed
Be prepared to reduce your speed
Increase your speed and force the lorry to drop back
Brake hard to allow the other driver to cut in

Question 28 of 52

What should you do after driving through a flood?

Carry out an emergency stop
Drive in a low gear with the footbrake lightly applied
Avoid braking until the brakes have dried out
Pump the footbrake when approaching hazards

Question 29 of 52

What can coasting downhill seriously affect?

The air brakes
The cooling system
The tachograph
The electrical systems

Question 30 of 52

When does ‘brake fade’ occur?

When the brakes get too hot
When the brakes get too cold
When the brakes get too dry
When the brakes get too wet

Question 31 of 52

How can you help to prevent ‘brake fade’?

Use the endurance brake
Apply the parking brake
Select neutral for a short distance
Repeatedly pump the brake pedal

Question 32 of 52

What causes ‘brake fade’?

Continuous use of the brakes
Repeated pumping of the brakes
Loss of air pressure in the system
Badly worn brake pads

Question 33 of 52

Where must extra care be taken when using an endurance brake (retarder)?

On uneven roads
On slippery roads
On downhill gradients
On uphill gradients

Question 34 of 52

You’re stationary. The brake air-pressure warning light comes on. Why should you keep the parking brake on?

Because the vehicle will suddenly roll backwards
Because it will cause the air pressure to rise
Because the service brake may not stop you
Because it will make the warning light go out

Question 35 of 52

You’re about to drive a vehicle fitted with air-assisted hydraulic brakes. Why might the brake pedal feel hard when you press it?

The vacuum pump isn’t working
The pedal movement needs adjusting
The brakes are locked on fully
The brake-fluid reservoir is empty

Question 36 of 52

Your vehicle is fitted with an air-assisted hydraulic braking system. What would warn you that the vacuum pump isn’t working?

The brake pedal feels spongy when pressed
The brake pedal has little resistance
The brake pedal feels hard when pressed
The brake pedal travels a long way

Question 37 of 52

Your vehicle is fitted with hydraulic brakes. Why might the brake pedal go down too far when it’s pressed?

There’s too much fluid in the braking system
The pedal travel requires adjustment
The vacuum exhauster isn’t working
There isn’t enough fluid in the braking system

Question 38 of 52

You’re about to drive a vehicle fitted with hydraulic brakes. What should you check before driving the vehicle?

The hydraulic-brake fluid level
The power-steering fluid level
The cooling-system fluid level
The windscreen-washer fluid level

Question 39 of 52

Your vehicle is fitted with air-assisted hydraulic brakes. What would warn you that there isn’t enough air in the system?

An increase in pressure on the air gauge
A buzzer or light
The exhaust brake won’t work
Brake fade

Question 40 of 52

Which coloured band on the rev counter makes the best use of engine braking?

Blue
Red
Amber
Green

Question 41 of 52

Your vehicle is fitted with air brakes. What does it mean if a brake warning light shows when you’ve just started the engine?

Low air pressure
Increased air pressure
The parking brake isn’t working
The air reservoirs are fully charged

Question 42 of 52

Your vehicle is fitted with air-assisted hydraulic brakes. What fault would you suspect if the brake pedal becomes hard to press?

The brake system has a loss of vacuum
The brake linings are worn
The brake shoes need adjusting
The brake system requires more fluid

Question 43 of 52

Which component will last longer when you use a retarder?

The brake linings
The catalytic converter
The exhaust system
The transmission

Question 44 of 52

What should you do when an air-pressure warning device activates?

Continue to drive the vehicle
Drain the air tanks
Stop and have the fault put right
Pump the brake pedal repeatedly

Question 45 of 52

You’re driving down a snow-covered hill. Why should you take care when using an independent endurance brake (retarder)?

Your brakes could overheat
Your speed could increase
Compressed air could escape
The drive wheels could lock

Question 46 of 52

What should you avoid when using an independent endurance brake (retarder) on slippery roads?

The front wheels spinning
The drive wheels locking
Brake-pad wear
Anti-skid road surfaces

Question 47 of 52

You’re about to drive an unfamiliar vehicle. What should you do if you think there may be moisture in the air-brake reservoir?

Assume the system has automatic drain valves
Find out whether you need to drain the system manually
Nothing; it’s the vehicle owner’s responsibility
Leave the engine running for a while before driving

Question 48 of 52

You’re about to start a journey in very frosty weather. What’s the likely cause of low air-brake pressure?

Engine temperature too low
Weak engine anti-freeze mixture
Brake pedal needs adjustment
Frozen moisture in the storage tanks

Question 49 of 52

When should an anti-lock braking system (ABS) warning light turn off?

When the brakes are used for the first time
When the ABS comes into operation
When road speed is 6 mph (10 km/h) or more
When the secondary braking system is used

Question 50 of 52

What should you do when making a short stop, facing uphill?

Hold the vehicle on the clutch
Hold the vehicle on the footbrake
Select neutral and apply the parking brake
Apply the parking brake after stopping

Question 51 of 52

You’re about to move off in a vehicle that has automatic transmission. What must you do before you select ‘D’ (drive)?

Put your foot on the footbrake
Signal to move off
Alter your seat position
Adjust your mirrors

Question 52 of 52

What’s an advantage of progressive braking?

Improved passenger safety and comfort
Increased air-brake pressure
Avoidance of ‘brake fade’
Longer rest periods

Braking Systems

Braking Systems

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