What You Should Avoid If Your Car Brake Fail While Driving And What To Do Instead

Brake failure while driving can be a terrifying experience, especially if you are traveling at high speeds. However, there are certain mistakes you should avoid in such a situation that can potentially worsen the problem. Here are some common mistakes to avoid and what to do instead.

Using the Emergency Brake

According to Mechanicbase, the emergency brake or parking brake is not designed to stop a car while driving at high speeds. Using the emergency brake can cause the car to skid out of control and lose traction.

What to do instead: If you need to slow down, use the gears or engine braking instead of the emergency brake. Shift the car into a lower gear and let the engine slow the car down. If you have a manual transmission, downshift to a lower gear and let the engine slow the car down. If you have an automatic transmission, shift to the “L” or “2” position to engage the lower gears.

Turning Off the Engine

Another common mistake is to turn off the engine, assuming that this will stop the car. While turning off the engine will stop the car eventually, it will also disable the power steering and make it difficult to steer the car. This can be dangerous, especially if you are traveling at high speeds.

What to do instead: Keep the engine running and focus on steering the car to a safe spot. If the car starts to pick up speed, try to use the gears or engine braking to slow down the car.

Swerving or Braking Suddenly

Swerving or braking suddenly can cause the car to lose control and increase the risk of an accident. This can be dangerous, especially if you are traveling at high speeds.

What to do instead: Stay calm and try to steer the car towards a safe spot. If you need to slow down, use the gears or engine braking instead of the brakes. Shift the car into a lower gear and let the engine slow the car down. If you have a manual transmission, downshift to a lower gear and let the engine slow the car down. If you have an automatic transmission, shift to the “L” or “2” position to engage the lower gears.

In conclusion, brake failure while driving can be a scary experience, but it is important to stay calm and avoid making mistakes that can worsen the situation. Focus on steering the car towards a safe spot, use the gears or engine braking to slow down the car, and keep the engine running to maintain control of the car. Remember, your safety and the safety of others on the road should always be your top priority.