What should you do if your brakes fail while driving?

When facing brake failure while driving, the best course of action is to pump the brake pedal, shift to a lower gear, and steer to a safe area. Pumping the brake pedal can help build up some brake pressure if the brake system still has a small amount of function left. Shifting to a lower gear uses engine braking to help reduce speed effectively without relying solely on the brake system.

Steering towards a safe area is crucial for avoiding obstacles, other vehicles, or pedestrians. This suggests an understanding of vehicle control and spatial awareness, both of which are essential in an emergency situation. Correctly executing these steps increases the driver’s chances of safely stopping the vehicle without causing an accident.

The other options present less effective or potentially dangerous responses to brake failure. Using the emergency brake immediately may lead to loss of control, especially at high speeds. Turning off the engine can disable the power steering and anti-lock brakes, making steering more difficult. Accelerating to slow down is counterintuitive and dangerous, as it increases speed rather than decreases it.