Should You Brake When Turning?

[DiMaverick]

Braking is essential when turning. It is necessary to reduce speed and maintain a safe speed range during turns. If you don't have the habit of braking in advance, slamming on the brakes during a sharp turn can cause excessive centrifugal force, leading to the car flipping over and the driver being thrown off the road. Brake in Advance to Slow Down: Before entering a turn, you should brake in advance to slow down, ensuring the vehicle enters the turn at a lower, safer speed. If the road conditions are clear, you may not need to brake during the turn; simply maintain throttle to keep the drive wheels rotating and propel the vehicle out of the turn. Thanks to the grip provided by the drive wheels, the vehicle will significantly reduce the impact of body roll. Key Points to Note: Proper braking should be completed before entering the turn. Maintain a steady speed during the turn, and it's best not to shift into neutral. Since you've already slowed down before the turn, you can appropriately downshift and use a lower gear to navigate the turn. After exiting the turn, accelerate again. This method is not only useful for everyday driving but is also employed by professional race car drivers on tracks to maintain better control of the vehicle by slowing down at the end of straight sections.

[SadieDella]

I remember once almost having an accident when I didn't brake in time while turning on a mountain road. Whether to brake or not during a turn depends on the specific situation. If it's a sharp turn or the speed is relatively high, you must lightly apply the brakes in advance to slow down, then stabilize the throttle to navigate the turn. Never slam on the brakes during a turn, as it can easily cause the tail to swing out! Experienced drivers will tell you to look ahead at the exit of the curve in advance and steer the wheel smoothly with the turn. Different car models also feel different when turning—for example, SUVs with a higher center of gravity need to go even slower. On rainy days, you need to brake even earlier when turning, as the tires have less grip on wet roads, and the braking distance can nearly double.

[MacZane]

Last time my friend didn't slow down when taking a highway ramp curve, and the tires screeched. Actually, whether to brake in a curve depends on the curve's sharpness and vehicle speed. For 90-degree right-angle turns in the city, you need to apply some brake if speed exceeds 30 km/h; for gentle curves on highways, maintaining speed is sufficient. Remember to use intermittent braking rather than slamming the brakes - aggressive ESP system intervention can actually be dangerous. Modified car enthusiasts should pay extra attention: vehicles with wider tires will have higher cornering limits, but the factory suspension might not handle it. Always check the rearview mirror before entering a curve to avoid rear-end collisions.

[VonJeremiah]

During the driving test, the instructor repeatedly emphasized: 'Slow in, fast out' when taking corners. I recommend lightly applying the brakes to slow down about 50 meters before entering the turn, then gradually accelerating once the car's nose is aligned with the apex. Especially when driving high-center-of-gravity vehicles like MPVs, braking too hard during a turn can easily cause body roll. Remember to check your tires—worn-out tires are prone to slipping in corners. On long downhill turns, brake earlier and use a combination of engine braking and foot braking. In rainy or overcast conditions, reducing your speed to about 70% of that on dry roads when cornering is safer.

[LeAlana]

The physics teacher said that there is centrifugal force when turning, and if you don't slow down, the car will be thrown out. My habit when driving through a curve is a three-step process: first, ease off the accelerator when seeing the curve, lightly apply the brake to reduce speed before entering the curve, and then gently accelerate when exiting the curve. Special attention should be paid when driving an electric car, as sudden intervention of kinetic energy recovery can affect the stability during the turn. Rear-wheel-drive cars are prone to oversteer when braking during a turn, while front-wheel-drive cars tend to understeer. For cars with modified braking systems, be aware that racing brake pads perform worse at low temperatures. Braking while steering accelerates tire wear, and if the tires wear into a conical shape, they're ruined.

[DelCamilla]

After years of taking kids to school through seven or eight turns daily, I've figured out some techniques. For 90-degree turns in residential areas, keep under 20 km/h with light braking. Maintain 40 km/h on national highway curves for stability. Hairpin turns in mountainous areas require slowing below 30 km/h. Avoid heavy braking when steering wheel is at full lock to prevent damaging the steering gear. When carrying elderly passengers, reduce speed by additional 10% to minimize rear-seat swaying that causes motion sickness. Regular wheel alignment is crucial – incorrect toe-in makes tires squeal during turns. Remember, avoid aggressive cornering if tire tread depth is below 4mm.