by Rachelle de Bretagne

Created on: May 23, 2007

It's pretty scary isn't it ? Driving along a highway when your brakes fail doesn't have to be a huge life threatening problem, though you will need to be prepared, and may only get a short space of time to make those all important decisions on how to slow the car down to a stop safely.

When you are learning to drive a car, one of the biggest lessons can't be taught. It's a question of time and accustoming yourself to driving that teaches the biggest lesson of all, awareness of all that is happening around you. In the case of brake failure, this is every bit if not more important than it is in normal circumstances, as by knowing what other vehicles are doing around you, you can make a difference to the safe handling of brake failure.

The first stage of dealing with brake failure is to take your foot off the accelerator because more speed is certainly not what you will need in an emergency brake failure situation.

BEFORE PANICKING, CHECK !

*If the brake is really not working or something is blocking your use of it.
*If the brake can be pumped into action.

Sometimes, we are untidy. Believe me, there are times when objects get in the way of the pedals, and here, a quick kick around under the pedal will determine if this is the reason your brakes won't work.

In other cases, pumping the brake brings that last little bit of brake fluid into the system that will help the brakes to work.

Having checked these first items, which take seconds, be aware of obstructions in front of the vehicle as well as having to let people around you know that you are in trouble.

On hills.

On a hill, if the brakes won't work and the car is going at speed, skill with steering will be essential, and in a situation like this, never use the handbrake. What this would do is to spin the car, possibly causing danger not only to yourself but to those around you.

Instead, change down a gear, let the motor slow itself, change down again, until the car is going slow enough to pull off the road safely and call help.

In normal traffic conditions.

On busy roads, chances are that your speeds won't be excessive anyway. Again, use your gears to slow the car, though if you are in a flow of traffic, it is wise to ensure that those around you know that you are a moving hazard. Putting your hazard lights on will inform those around you to keep their distance. Slowing the car down through the gears, work your way to a safe place to park, and as you get further down the gears, the car will slow up, giving you an opportunity at very low speeds to engage the handbrake gently.

In a residential area.

Be very careful. Chances are that your speeds won't be excessive in a residential area, though here it is important to use your awareness even more than usual, taking care to look out for pedestrians or animals, and be ready to use your horn to signal if you see a potential hazard, as well as being prepared to take evasive action, in the event of a pedestrian being in the road. With safe handling of the brake failure, and by keeping to the specified speed limits, chances are that a life and death situation won't occur.

To avoid brake failure.

To avoid brake failure in the first place, get your brakes checked and your brake fluid levels checked when you have your car serviced, and do pay attention to the state of the hoses, as these erode and if left unattended to, can leak and cause failure. Changing discs at regular intervals is a good idea as well. Brakes save lives, and you cannot be too careful. If you see black dust around the hub caps, get your brakes checked, since excessive dust can also alter the efficiency of the braking system.

Learn more about this author, Rachelle de Bretagne.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.