What should you do if your brakes fail while driving?

When brakes fail while driving, the most effective response is to pump the brakes to try to rebuild pressure and then utilize the emergency brake. Pumping the brakes can help restore hydraulic pressure in the brake system, which might allow you to gain some braking effectiveness. If this does not work, the emergency brake (or parking brake) can be employed as a secondary method to slow down or stop the vehicle.

Understanding how to react in this situation is critical for maintaining control of the vehicle and preventing accidents. Rather than shutting off the ignition, which would disable power steering and power brakes, or coasting to a stop without any means of slowing down properly, using both the pumping technique and the emergency brake offers the best chance of regaining some control over the vehicle and stopping safely. Additionally, steering into a ditch may seem like a last resort but can lead to a dangerous situation if not executed correctly. Thus, leveraging the brakes through pumping and the emergency mechanism is the safest and most practical approach when faced with brake failure.