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Panic Mode Braking - First Experience

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Technical Discussion' started by jdcollins5, Sep 28, 2012.

  1. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    I have read where others have talked about "panic mode" braking but have not experienced this myself. When testing the brakes in the past I have never pressed the pedal hard enough, or moved my foot fast enough from accelerator to brake, to engage the panic mode.

    Yesterday on my return commute on a highway with one lane closed for construction, and with cars bumper to bumper in one lane at 55-60 mph, some guy in a truck decides at the last possible moment that he is going to make a left-hand turn at the next median crossover. So he hits his brakes and dives through the caution barrels to make his exit. The guy right in front of me panics and slams on his brakes forcing me to do the same.

    I hit my brakes and was really not prepared for how quickly the car stopped. It felt like I stopped as quickly as possible just before the tires could skid. It was smooth and straight, albeit very quickly :eek:
    I did not come close to the guy in front of me due to the quick stopping.

    The woman behind me was driving a big Chrysler 300 and when she hit her brakes she had to swerve to the shoulder of the road to keep from hitting me. Glad she reacted quickly enough to make that avoidance maneuver since she evidently wasn't able to stop as quickly as I did.
     
    #1 jdcollins5, Sep 28, 2012
  2. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

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    got the il pumper working overtime eh JD?

    Happen to me just months old... I was starteled.
     
    #2 spiderman, Sep 28, 2012
  3. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    Hey Spiderman,

    Yes it was pumping overtime for a few seconds !
     
    #3 jdcollins5, Sep 28, 2012
  4. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    I've done it a couple times in the GenII and once in my GenIII. Even with the little 15" tires the car stops shockingly fast. :)
     
    #4 F8L, Sep 28, 2012
  5. Chazz8

    Chazz8 Gadget Lover

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    Great brake success stories jdcollins5. Both you and the Chrysler 300 driver were using the 3 S's; Stomp on the brake, Stay on the brake, Steer to avoid collision.
     
    #5 Chazz8, Sep 28, 2012
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  6. The Critic

    The Critic Resident Critic

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    Mine stops relatively quickly, though the transition to friction brakes towards the end is quite noticeable and clunky.

    Oh, and I slide a bit towards the end - I blame F8L...as it is due to the poor traction of these Energy Saver A/S tires.
     
    #6 The Critic, Sep 28, 2012
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  7. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    They performed decently compared to other tires in the class. :p

    Tire Test Results : When Round and Black Becomes Lean and Green
     
    #7 F8L, Sep 28, 2012
  8. ahmeow

    ahmeow Prius Lover

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    Thanks God. All of you did good and avoid accident.
    Continue to enjoy the good ride. Stay alert, anyway.
     
    #8 ahmeow, Sep 28, 2012
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  9. hlunde

    hlunde Member

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    Most 2010 and later Prius test drives (Road and Track, Edmunds, etc.) report "good" braking in terms of control and stopping distance. These tests are typically from 60mph to 0mph, so the braking would be all hydraulic or at least dominated by the hydraulics. But OP seemed to have been expecting some deficiency prior to his/her actual panic stop?
     
    #9 hlunde, Oct 4, 2012
  10. WE0H

    WE0H Senior Member

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    I know the rental Prii can stop before hitting a deer [​IMG]

    Mike
     
    #10 WE0H, Oct 9, 2012
  11. WE0H

    WE0H Senior Member

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    I have those tires on my SUV and they grip the road like crazy even wet roads.

    Mike
     
    #11 WE0H, Oct 9, 2012
  12. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    The OP (me) was not expecting some deficiency. I was just surprised as to how quickly the car stopped. I had read about others on here describing the panic mode stop but just was not expecting just how quickly and how smoothly it did respond.
     
    #12 jdcollins5, Oct 9, 2012
  13. WE0H

    WE0H Senior Member

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    I have found after renting Toyota's for the past 3 years is all of them have wicked strong brakes.

    Mike
     
    #13 WE0H, Oct 9, 2012
  14. mjones12

    mjones12 Member

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    So, does the Prius have anti-lock brakes, or something like them, to keep the wheels from locking up when you're making a panic stop? I know the braking system is different from most cars.
     
    #14 mjones12, Oct 11, 2012
  15. WE0H

    WE0H Senior Member

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    Yes very good anti lock. Prius stops very very well :)

    Mike
     
    #15 WE0H, Oct 11, 2012
  16. NargilFenris

    NargilFenris Junior Member

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    I have had to slam my brakes twice now. Surprised both times just how quickly this car will stop, and is the reason whatever vehicles I will have in the future must have 4 wheel disk brakes.
     
    #16 NargilFenris, Oct 15, 2012
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  17. hlunde

    hlunde Member

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    Was your previous car a Hudson?
     
    #17 hlunde, Oct 15, 2012
  18. NargilFenris

    NargilFenris Junior Member

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    My car history to date is a Dodge Dynasty, Ford Escort, Ford Taurus x3. They all had very mushy breaks, except the Escort you had to pump the breaks every so often to build pressure.
     
    #18 NargilFenris, Oct 16, 2012
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