What should you do if your brakes fail while driving?

If your brakes fail while driving, the recommended action is to pump the brake pedal. This may help build up enough brake fluid pressure to regain some braking ability, especially if the failure is partial. After attempting to recover brake function, steering to a safe area becomes crucial, as you want to maneuver the vehicle away from traffic and potential hazards.

Pumping the brake pedal is a technique used in situations where the braking system may still have some effectiveness, allowing you to potentially slow down the vehicle without creating additional problems that abrupt actions might cause. Finding a safe area to steer towards is vital to minimize the risk of collision or injury. It's important to remain as calm as possible to make clear-headed decisions during this alarming scenario.

In contrast, applying the handbrake indiscriminately can cause the vehicle to skid or flip if not done carefully, while turning off the engine can disable power steering and brakes, which could lead to greater loss of control. Accelerating is counterproductive, as it increases speed and diminishes the ability to stop or mitigate any potential danger.