Can You Turn Off the Engine When Brakes Fail?
2 Answers
When a car's brakes fail, you should not directly turn off the engine. First, the engine's own traction can help slow down the vehicle. Second, turning off the engine will cut off power to systems like power steering, which may lead to greater danger. Therefore, never turn off the engine if the brakes fail; instead, find a way to stop the car as quickly as possible. Below are some solutions when brakes fail: 1. Try pulling the handbrake first to see if it can slow down the car. Be careful not to pull it all the way or too quickly. 2. If the handbrake is slow or ineffective, try the forced downshifting method (commonly known as "gun shifting") to slow down in a lower gear, then shift to neutral to cut off the power. 3. If neither the handbrake nor forced downshifting works, immediately honk to alert vehicles ahead and look for a suitable section to slow down, such as uphill roads, emergency lanes on highways, or entering grassy or shrubby areas for a "soft landing."
I remember a few years ago when I was driving my old car on the highway, suddenly the brakes felt spongy and unresponsive. I was terrified. My first instinct was to turn off the engine to save fuel, but luckily I remembered what my driving instructor said: never turn off the engine! The reason is simple: once the engine is off, the power steering system fails, making the steering wheel extremely heavy and harder to turn, which increases the risk of an accident. I stayed calm, steadied my speed, shifted to a lower gear to let the engine help slow down, and gently pulled the handbrake to gradually bring the car to a stop on the emergency lane. Later, the mechanic found that the brake fluid had leaked, causing the failure. My advice: if you experience brake failure, never turn off the engine. First, try downshifting or using the electronic handbrake to slow down, then pull over as soon as possible and seek professional help.
