How can you help to prevent 'brake fade'?
- A Use the endurance brake
- B Apply the parking brake
- C Select neutral for a short distance
- D Repeatedly pump the brake pedal
Why this is the answer
Brake fade occurs when the brakes overheat. Good forward planning and correct use of the gears when descending hills, together with proper use of the endurance brake (retarder), can help to prevent brake fade.
Why the other answers don't fit
- B
- Apply the parking brake — The parking brake acts on one axle and is not for use while moving.
- C
- Select neutral for a short distance — Neutral removes engine braking and hands everything to the brakes you are trying to spare.
- D
- Repeatedly pump the brake pedal — Pumping does not cool anything; it just uses the brakes more.
Where this comes from
- Driving Buses and Coaches — section 7
- Driving Goods Vehicles — section 3
Rule numbers link to The Highway Code on gov.uk.
Where this question comes from
The question, its options and the explanation are reproduced word for word from the DVSA revision question bank under licence. The licence requires them to appear unaltered, so we cannot reword them and neither can anyone else — that is why you will meet the same wording on other sites. Everything else on this page is written by Theory Hub: the explanation of why each wrong answer is wrong, the topic guide and the revision notes.
Asked in: Lorry & Bus (LGV/PCV)
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