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What to do if your car's brakes fail? The number one rule as stated by professional race car drivers is, "Don't panic!" That's easy for them to say; they're used to driving in dangerous situations. Most of us aren't.

Unfortunately, for the rest of us, panic is our natural response when we touch our car's brake pedal only to have the pedal mash to the floor, helplessly. The good news is that most brake failures can be dealt with as long as a driver controls their panic and follows these rules.

1. Fight back the panic and continue to steer your vehicle. You have already taken your foot off the gas, and the car is beginning to slow down (if you are on a level roadway). Steer firmly as it slows.

2. Turn on your emergency flashers (if you can actually remember where your car's flasher button is located). Or use your car's directional signals to alert drivers behind you that you will be pulling to the right or the left.

3. Try pumping the brake pedal up and down because your car probably has some braking ability left. If you have anti-lock brakes, push the brake pedal down to the floor, and hold. Pumping is NOT recommended for anti-lock brakes.

4. If you are going downhill and your brakes fail, select a lower gear. A lower gear will assist your car in slowing down. A lower gear is helpful to slow your runaway car on a level roadway, too.

5. Use your car's emergency brake, but do this slowly while holding the release button. And do this only as a last resort because the action could cause your car's wheels to lock up and your car to swerve out of control. If this happens, release the emergency brake immediately and continue to steer.

6. Throw your car into reverse. This, too, is only recommended as a last resort because doing so can seriously damage your car's transmission.

7. Find a safe place to pull off the road. On mountain roads, you may find a "runaway ramp" side road. Use this!

8. Once you have steered your car onto a shoulder or side road, shift into neutral and apply the parking brake. This should bring your car to a stop.

9. During city driving, steering your car alongside a curb will help to stop the car, too. But do this only when your car has significantly slowed down.

10. When all else fails, and the situation looks desperate, you must find something to crash into, something soft and yielding like a mud bank or a group of low shrubs. Resistance like heavy gravel will help to slow and bring your car to a stop, too.

Some people suggest crashing into a vehicle ahead of you; this is just not wise. And it is VERY dangerous. Steer clear of all other traffic and find a safer barrier to stop your car like low bushes or a small hill.

Experiencing brake failure can cause a terrific and lasting fear of driving, but deal with the fear and get back behind the wheel, as soon as possible.

Once you have had your car's brakes fixed, of course.

Learn more about this author, Sheree Zielke.
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