What should you do if your brakes fail?

If your brakes fail, shifting to a lower gear and pumping the brakes is a crucial step to reduce speed and regain some control of the vehicle. When you downshift, the engine's resistance can help slow the vehicle down, which is particularly important when dealing with a brake failure scenario. Pumping the brakes can sometimes build up pressure in the brake lines if the system is not completely devoid of fluid, providing a temporary braking effect.

While accelerating to gain speed is not advisable during a brake failure as it increases the potential for a more serious accident, steering off the road might not be the safest option if there's no safe area or if it could lead to a more dangerous situation. Turning off the ignition can disable the steering and brakes in some vehicles, making it more difficult to control the vehicle, which is why that choice is also not recommended. Understanding the proper actions to take in case of brake failure can be critical to maintaining safety on the road.