You could have the best car on the block with incredible specs and features, but if it’s got trouble with its brakes, all your commutes and trips will have to wait until they’ve been fixed. While brake failure is not a phenomenon very commonly heard of anymore with the advancement in braking technology, also assisted by ABS (anti-lock braking system) and EBD (electronic brake distribution) in a lot of cars today.
But it is worth considering and being prepared for if a brake failure happens. So, here we take a look at what to do in case the brakes fail:
– Hazard lamps are available in all modern cars and these are meant for such emergency situations. These lamps, in fact, are not meant to be switched on in case of driving in fog or in the rain, as a lot of people misunderstand. Switch these on to alert other road users of a potential issue in your vehicle.
– Get your foot off the accelerator and continuously pump the brake pedal fast which can create residual pressure in the braking system, and help the automobile slow down. If you experience a restoration of brake pressure, gradually use the brakes until you come to a complete stop.
– Change the gear if your brakes aren’t working. Shift down and the engine braking will assist in slowing down the vehicle.
– Try using the parking brake but do so gently. Your parking brake slows the vehicle down from the back wheels and is mechanical rather than hydraulic. However, avoid using the parking brake too rapidly or firmly because doing so might cause your car to slide out of control.
– If the brakes fail, carefully move to the left side of the road rather than keeping it in the centre. A collision may result from driving in the middle. Take a good look and be aware of the approaching traffic before you shift lanes toward the left.
– Never switch off your car before coming to a complete stop. Power steering will be disabled when your car is turned off, making it considerably more difficult to drive. Your steering wheel may lock on certain cars, leaving you unable to adjust your direction.
As mentioned above, brake failure is not that common anymore with more sophisticated disc brakes in use, however, emergency situations like these can occur, especially if vehicle maintenance is not carried out properly. It is better to tend to periodic maintenance than to deal with a brake failure which can be a harrowing experience. But if it does happen, the key is to keep a calm mind and not panic.
Method 1 of 3: When the brakes go out
Suddenly finding that your brakes don’t work is a great fear among drivers. This is an extremely dangerous situation and can even mean the difference between life and death. Maintaining a level head and knowing what steps to take are crucial for your own safety and that of others on the road.
Step 1: Downshift immediately. This will slow the car and works with both automatic and manual transmissions.
In a manual transmission, work your way smoothly down through the gears. Do not turn the ignition off because you will no longer have power steering, and do not put the car in neutral because it will decrease your ability to brake even further.
Step 2: Do not depress the accelerator pedal. While this may sound like a no-brainer, people do strange things when scared and under pressure.
Avoid the temptation to start pushing around with your feet willy nilly because speeding up will only make the situation worse.
Step 3: Use the emergency brake. This may or may not bring you to a full stop, but it will at least slow you down. Emergency brakes vary between different vehicles, so you should familiarize yourself with how the one in your car works.
Step 4: Move to your right as soon as it is safely possible. This takes you away from oncoming traffic and closer to the shoulder of the road or an exit off of a highway.
Step 5: Let others on the road know you are out of control. Put on your emergency flashers and honk the horn.
Everyone around you needs to know something is amiss, so they can get themselves to safety and out of your way.
Step 6: Come to a stop one way or the other. Hopefully, you will have slowed enough that you can pull over and naturally come to a stop after decelerating.
In the event that you must hit something because all ways are blocked, aim for the softest blow possible. Careening into a privacy fence, for example, is a far better choice than a large tree.
Method 2 of 3: When skidding or hydroplaning
When a car begins skidding, you have little ability to control the car’s speed or direction. That does not mean, however, that you are powerless when in this situation. Skidding occurs more frequently in older cars that are not fitted with an anti-lock braking system (ABS), but it does occasionally happen in vehicles with ABS as well.
Step 1: Depress the brake smoothly for a full second. If you push the brake too quickly, it can actually make the skid worse.
Instead push it down to a mental count of “one-one-thousand,” and then let up to a count of “two-one-thousand’.
Step 2: Continue braking and releasing. Continue in this slow and controlled manner until you regain control of your car again and are able to steer it.
This is called cadence braking.
Step 3: Mentally regroup. Once you are in control of your vehicle again, pull over and give yourself some time to mentally regroup before driving again.
Method 3 of 3: When turning for evasive manoeuvers
Another situation where you may need to make an emergency stop is to avoid hitting something that doesn’t belong in the road. This could be when a deer suddenly appears in front of you or you come over a large hill to find another accident in the road. Here, you need to steer and stop to avoid a collision.
Step 1: Decide how to stop based on your car. The way to do this varies slightly, depending on whether your car has ABS or not.
If your car does have ABS, push the brake pedal down as hard as you can while steering in a normal fashion. In a situation where you are driving a car without ABS, you still push the brake firmly but only at about 70% of the force you are capable of exerting and only steer once you have released the brake to prevent the brakes from locking up.
Regardless of the hows and whys of your emergency stop, the most important thing to do is remain calm. Feelings of frustration or fear will do no good, and can impair your ability to act appropriately and handle the situation to the best of your ability. Be sure to have one of a certified mechanic/technicians inspect your brakes to make sure they’re in excellent working condition.
Step 2: Schedule for a proper and thorough inspection of your car’s brakes, steering and suspension