Brakes Fail? Don’t Panic! Here’s How To Safely Bring Your Vehicle To A Halt | Auto News

Stay Calm: First things first, do not panic. It is possible to overcome the sudden brake failure situation without harm. Take a deep breath and try to stay calm. It will help you think clearly. Fear can lead to mistakes, which can be even more dangerous.

Honk The Horn: If such a situation occurs, alert your fellow road users to get your way clear. Alert them by honking the horn and turning on your hazard lights. This will make people driving behind or near you aware of the situation and keep their distance.

Engine Braking: Engine braking is your secret weapon for such a situation. It helps you reduce the car’s speed without using the actual braking system. Gradually downshift to lower gears. This will cause engine braking and reduce the car’s speed.

Emergency Brake: Once your speed has reduced to a level where you feel it’s safe to use the emergency brake (hand brake), pull the handbrake slowly as pulling it too quickly can cause an accident.

Side Road Or Open Space: If possible, gradually steer your car to a side road or an open space where you can safely bring it to a halt. This reduces the risk of causing harm to others.

If A Collision Is Inevitable: If there is no way to avoid a collision, try to collide with something that will cause the least damage. Look for a sand or dirt mound nearby and drive onto it. The car’s wheels will sink into the sand, potentially stopping the car.