What is an appropriate action if your brakes fail while driving?

When experiencing brake failure while driving, the most appropriate action is to shift into a lower gear or use the emergency brake. This approach helps to slow down the vehicle progressively without causing sudden jerks that could lead to loss of control. Shifting to a lower gear takes advantage of engine braking, which can slow the vehicle down significantly as the vehicle's engine revs higher while the car decelerates.

Using the emergency brake is also a critical step, but it should be applied gradually to prevent the vehicle from skidding or rolling uncontrollably. These actions combined can help you safely bring the vehicle to a stop, minimizing the risk of accidents.

Continuing to drive and ignoring the brake problem can lead to catastrophic consequences, such as colliding with other vehicles or obstacles on the road. Steering into oncoming traffic is extremely dangerous and would likely result in serious accidents. Turning off the engine is counterproductive; while it would stop the vehicle from accelerating, it also disables power steering, making it harder to maintain control. Therefore, shifting to a lower gear or engaging the emergency brake is the most effective way to handle brake failure.