What to Do When a Vehicle's Brakes Fail
1 Answers
If a vehicle's brakes fail, there are several methods to avoid accidents, which include: 1. Control the direction according to the road conditions and speed, disengage the high gear, and quickly rev the engine to shift from high gear to low gear. This will create significant traction resistance from the engine, rapidly reducing the vehicle's speed. Additionally, while shifting to low gear, use the handbrake in combination, but be careful not to pull it too tightly or too slowly. 2. Use the rigid parts of the vehicle, such as the bumper or body, to rub or collide with natural roadside obstacles (rocks, large trees, or slopes) to force the vehicle to stop and minimize accident damage. 3. If the brakes fail while going uphill, downshift to a medium or low gear in time to maintain sufficient power to reach the top of the slope and stop. If stopping halfway is necessary, keep the vehicle in a low forward gear, tighten the handbrake, and have passengers promptly block the wheels with stones or wooden blocks. If the vehicle starts sliding backward, turn the rear toward the hillside or a safe direction, and turn on the headlights and emergency signals to alert other vehicles. 4. If the brakes fail while going downhill and the vehicle's own mechanisms cannot control the speed, the driver should decisively use natural obstacles, such as roadside rocks or large trees, to create resistance. If no suitable terrain or objects are available, in an emergency, move one side of the vehicle close to the hillside to increase resistance through friction and gradually reduce speed. 5. When descending a long or steep slope, apply the brakes briefly regardless of the situation. This tests the brake performance and provides time to control the speed if the brakes fail, known as anticipatory braking.
