What steps should you take if your brakes fail?

What steps should you take if your brakes fail?

• A. Slam the brakes
• B. Try to pump the brakes to build pressure, use the parking or emergency brake gradually, downshift to a lower gear, and steer to a safe stop.
• C. Stop immediately by parking wherever you are.
• D. Turn off engine.

Answer: (B)

When brakes fail, you still want to maintain control and slow the car safely. Start by trying to rebuild hydraulic pressure by pumping the brake pedal several times. If the pedal remains firm or you still can’t slow effectively, use the parking brake gradually. Pushing it too hard can lock the rear wheels, so ease into it and monitor how the car responds. Engine braking is also helpful—downshift to a lower gear to use the engine’s resistance to slow the vehicle without relying on the brakes. Finally, steer smoothly toward a safe place off the roadway and stop. This combination gives you back a way to decelerate and control the vehicle, rather than freezing or panicking.

When brakes fail, you still want to maintain control and slow the car safely. Start by trying to rebuild hydraulic pressure by pumping the brake pedal several times. If the pedal remains firm or you still can’t slow effectively, use the parking brake gradually. Pushing it too hard can lock the rear wheels, so ease into it and monitor how the car responds. Engine braking is also helpful—downshift to a lower gear to use the engine’s resistance to slow the vehicle without relying on the brakes. Finally, steer smoothly toward a safe place off the roadway and stop. This combination gives you back a way to decelerate and control the vehicle, rather than freezing or panicking.