Brake failure is pretty terrifying when you encounter the problem while driving, and not too many know about this defensive driving skill. The following instructions will give you a great idea of what to do when your brakes fail and it will give you the peace of mind of knowing the steps to take.
First and foremost, do not panic! Usually when you overreact, the situation becomes more dangerous.
Take your foot off the accelerator and if your cruise control is on, turn it off. Cruise control will normally turn off as soon as you touch the brake or clutch, but just be sure that it is off.
Give attention to how your brake pedal feels. If it is soft and goes to the floor then it may be that you have low fluid, a faulty master cylinder or it might be a problem with your drums or calipers. It is possible that you can gain some braking pressure by pumping the brakes.
If your brake pedal is hard or does not move then something in the brake system has seized or there is something under the pedal. Feel to see if there is something that has been caught under the brake pedal, and if there is try to remove it as safely as possible.
Stopping a Car with No Brakes
Brake failure is pretty terrifying when you encounter the problem while driving, and not too many know about this defensive driving skill. The following instructions will give you a great idea of what to do when your brakes fail and it will give you the peace of mind of knowing the steps to take.
First and foremost, do not panic! Usually when you overreact, the situation becomes more dangerous.
Take your foot off the accelerator and if your cruise control is on, turn it off. Cruise control will normally turn off as soon as you touch the brake or clutch, but just be sure that it is off.
Give attention to how your brake pedal feels. If it is soft and goes to the floor then it may be that you have low fluid, a faulty master cylinder or it might be a problem with your drums or calipers. It is possible that you can gain some braking pressure by pumping the brakes.
If your brake pedal is hard or does not move then something in the brake system has seized or there is something under the pedal. Feel to see if there is something that has been caught under the brake pedal, and if there is try to remove it as safely as possible.
Pump your brakes. Pumping them several times will allow enough pressure to build up and will eventually stop your vehicle. Sometimes it takes a while, so keep trying. Keep the brake pedal squeezed down to the floor to make the most out of the pressure that is being built up.
Shift to a lower gear. This helps your engine slow down the car. With an automatic transmission, downshift a gear at a time into the low range. With a manual transmission, downshift two at a time and repeat while working down the gears. Do not downshift too quickly because this can lead to you losing control of your vehicle.
Using the parking brake will usually stop your car. It will take a bit longer because it is only stopping the rear wheels. Apply the break slowly and steadily and that will allow you to control the pressure at which you apply the brake.
Keep your eyes on the road and continue to steer. Avoid heavy traffic, pedestrians or other obstacles you might encounter on the road. Also, put your hazards on so that others know that there is a problem and to stay out of your way while you try to stop in a safe place.
Using these tips will help tremendously if you encounter this problem, and knowing this will help you add onto your defensive driving safety skills.
Pump your brakes.
Pumping them several times will allow enough pressure to build up and will eventually stop your vehicle. Sometimes it takes a while, so keep trying. Keep the brake pedal squeezed down to the floor to make the most out of the pressure that is being built up.
Shift to a lower gear.
This helps your engine slow down the car. With an automatic transmission, downshift a gear at a time into the low range. With a manual transmission, downshift two at a time and repeat while working down the gears. Do not downshift too quickly because this can lead to you losing control of your vehicle.
Using the parking brake will usually stop your car. It will take a bit longer because it is only stopping the rear wheels. Apply the break slowly and steadily and that will allow you to control the pressure at which you apply the brake.
Keep your eyes on the road and continue to steer. Avoid heavy traffic, pedestrians or other obstacles you might encounter on the road. Also, put your hazards on so that others know that there is a problem and to stay out of your way while you try to stop in a safe place.
Using these tips will help tremendously if you encounter this problem and knowing this will help you add onto your defensive driving safety skills. For more information on defensive driving skills, visit a defensive driving course today by clicking here!