What to do When Your Brakes Fail While Driving
For better or worse, driving a car is a hypnotic activity for many people. We’ve become so used to commanding our fast, two-ton, metal vehicles every day on the way to and from work, errands, etc. that we often forget just how dangerous it can be. But nothing snaps you back into cold, hard reality like pressing your brake pedal only to find that it doesn’t work. Here we’ll go over what to do when brakes fail and you’re in a moving vehicle.
Interested in learning more on braking? Check out our blog post, “6 Factors That Contribute to Smooth Braking.”
Keep in Mind What NOT to do
Safely stopping a car without working brakes requires staying calm pressure in order to maintain full control over the vehicle. Keep in mind the following factors.
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- Do not panic. The next few moments are crucial to your safety and the safety of those around you, so breathe deeply and try to stay clear-headed.
- Don’t downshift too quickly. While you will want to downshift, you shouldn’t go from 4th gear to 1st in an instant. This could cause you to skid out of control.
- Do not turn off the car. Again, this could cause skidding. It also disables power steering or locks the steering wheel entirely, giving you less control over the situation.
- Do not apply the emergency brake too quickly. You will want to apply the emergency brake, but not before downshifting and pumping the brake pedal. Aggressively pulling the emergency brake could cause you to skid and lose control of the vehicle.
What to do When Brakes Fail
- Take your foot off the gas.
- Turn on hazard lights (if you have time). If the roadway is relatively clear and you’re still in full control of the vehicle, turn on your hazard lights and honk your horn to warn others around you. Even if they don’t fully understand your predicament, they will be aware to steer clear of you.
- Downshift SLOWLY. Turn off cruise control (if applicable) and slowly downshift to decrease momentum.
- Pump the brake pedal hard and fast. Most modern vehicles have dual braking systems that independently control the front and back brakes. Pumping the brakes aggressively may be enough to engage half of the brakes to slow you to a halt. This will not work if both halves of the dual system fail.
- Cautiously apply emergency brake. The emergency brake system won’t bring you to a halt, but it will slow you down significantly. Be sure to engage it carefully to ensure you stay in full control.
- (Optional) Use guard rails. If your brakes fail while moving at highway speeds toward unavoidable obstacles, it may be necessary to use the divider or guard rail to scrape the side of your car in order to slow down. When it comes down to it, your life is more important than your car.
- Steer yourself to safety. As the car begins to slow, steer yourself to the side of the road. Coming to a complete stop will be a relief, but you’re putting yourself and others in danger if it’s in the middle of the highway.
Keep a clear head, follow these steps, and stay safe on the road! For more tips and information on all things driving, check out the Top Driver blog or contact Top Driver to learn more about our Illinois, Michigan and Ohio driving programs.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do first if my brakes fail while driving?
Stay calm and take your foot off the gas. Panicking is the single biggest danger because most successful brake-failure recoveries depend on deliberate, controlled actions. Once you are off the gas, turn on your hazard lights and honk your horn to warn other drivers, then begin downshifting slowly to bring the engine speed down. Do not slam the emergency brake, do not jerk the steering wheel, and do not turn off the engine. The goal is to scrub off speed gradually while keeping full control of the vehicle.
Should I pump the brake pedal if my brakes fail?
Yes. Most modern vehicles have a dual braking system that independently controls the front and rear brakes. If one half of the system has failed, aggressively pumping the brake pedal hard and fast may be enough to engage the other half and slow the car to a stop. Pumping also rebuilds hydraulic pressure if the issue is a fluid problem. This will not work if both halves of the dual system have failed at once, but in the more common partial failure, pumping is one of the most effective first responses.
How do I use the emergency brake if my regular brakes fail?
Apply it gradually, not all at once. The emergency brake (also called the parking brake) acts on the rear wheels only and will not bring the car to a quick stop, but it will slow you down significantly. Pull the handle or hold the pedal down slowly and steadily while keeping firm control of the steering wheel. Yanking the e-brake aggressively at speed can lock the rear wheels and send the car into a skid, especially in rain or on a curve. Use it as one tool among several, not as the only solution.
Should I downshift if my brakes are not working?
Yes, but slowly. Downshifting uses engine braking to decrease your momentum and is one of the most effective ways to slow a car without functioning brakes. The key word is slowly. Do not jump from fourth gear to first; drop one gear at a time so the engine and transmission can handle the change. Going from a high gear directly to a low one at speed can lock the drive wheels and put the car into a skid. If you have an automatic transmission, shift down through the lower gear positions rather than slamming into low.
Should I turn off the engine if my brakes fail?
No. Turning off the engine while moving is one of the worst things you can do. It can disable the power steering, which makes the wheel much harder to turn, and in some vehicles it can lock the steering wheel entirely, leaving you with no way to steer around obstacles. Keep the engine running so you have full steering control and so the rest of the car's safety systems stay active. Focus on slowing down through downshifting, pumping the brakes, and using the emergency brake.
Is it ever okay to scrape a guardrail to stop the car?
In a worst-case scenario, yes. If your brakes have failed at highway speed and you are heading toward an unavoidable obstacle, deliberately scraping the side of your car along a guardrail or concrete divider can help shed speed. The friction is rough on the vehicle but can prevent a much worse crash. Steer in lightly so you brush the barrier rather than slam into it. The same principle applies if there is a soft shoulder or run-off area you can use. Your life is far more important than the body damage.
