What Do You Do If Your Brakes Fail

What To Do If Brakes Fail While Driving

The priority when your breaks fail is not to panic, and not to slam the gas pedal by mistake. Ease off the accelerator and press the brake pedal firmly. If it feels soft or sinks to the floor, pump it, sometimes that’s enough to build up hydraulic pressure and get some stopping power back.

At the same time, start downshifting into lower gears. Letting the engine do some of the braking for you can slow the car meaningfully even without functioning brakes.

The parking brake can help too, but ease into it. Yanking it hard can lock the rear wheels and send you into a skid, which is worse than the brake failure itself. Flip on your hazards and lay on the horn if you need to warn other drivers what’s happening.

While all this is going on, look for somewhere safe to end up: a shoulder, an emergency escape ramp if you’re on a mountain grade, an uphill stretch of road that’ll help slow you down naturally, or just open space away from other traffic.

One thing not to do: don’t turn the ignition off while you’re still moving. On a lot of vehicles that locks the steering wheel or kills power steering and power brakes, which makes everything worse at the exact moment you need control.

Once you’re stopped, don’t drive it again. Get it towed. And when you get the chance, check the manufacturer’s manual, brake systems and emergency procedures vary enough between vehicles that it’s worth knowing the specifics for yours before you’re ever in this situation.