What's the reason for the brake being hard to press and the car not starting?

[ValentinaFitz]

If the brake suddenly becomes hard to press, it might be because the driver stepped on the brake several times after turning off the engine, causing the vacuum in the brake booster to disappear. Without the booster's assistance, it becomes difficult to press the brake pedal. Here are some precautions for using the brakes: 1. Avoid emergency braking at high speeds: While driving at low speeds, you can perform emergency braking in case of sudden events ahead by stepping hard on the brake pedal. However, this should not be done at high speeds to prevent the vehicle from skidding or rolling over. 2. Apply gradual braking: During normal driving conditions, apply gradual braking by pressing the clutch pedal while releasing the accelerator pedal, shifting to a lower gear, and then lifting the clutch pedal once the speed decreases. Finally, press the brake pedal until the vehicle stops. 3. Use intermittent braking: On long downhill slopes in mountainous areas or in situations where continuous braking can generate high temperatures, intermittent braking—alternately pressing and releasing the brake pedal—can effectively prevent the braking system from overheating.